You can get a credit union to do a drive by appraisal for a HELOC and the brokers can tell you prior what it will appraise for and you probably dont have to pay for the appraisal. 

They would have to pay a commission if they sold w/ a realtor.b.

It’s also helpful to pay attention to the public records of similarly constructed housing in Miami.

Some cities do require them to register and have insurance, but that is no guarantee of the work or quality.While many will fight you on this, my suggestion is to never pay up front. 

I am not sure I understand the strategy of a company creating software and not wanting anyone who wanted to learn it learn; even if it was training you could pay for. 

At least in terms of rent, college students are paying 1100 - 1600 to rent by the room.

If so, would they be willing to pay that much and not use a realtor?

If he does pay those off I will post an update.

I am thinking of a system where my investor-based agent gives me a ball park, and after that I pay contractors to go in and give me itemized bids, what do you think about that?

As for selling with 10% down at 8% interest, you now have two title transfers that violate the due on sale clause and add complications to subject to “safeguards” that reduce risk if note is accelerated, if party in possession doesn’t pay taxes or insurance, and of triggering whatever system the lender has set up to notify them when a deed transfer takes place.