The taxes in this area run about $600 per roof annually but still are part of a decent school district (Grandview) compared to KCMO/Hickman.Hope everyone had a great 2015 and that you set your goals high for 2016.  

Does anyone have tips/resources on navigating this scenario; finding a good broker, questions to ask, key analysis to run to compare properties and gauging local economic health?

I always ask them before I buy in any area to get their opinions on the local demand and reasonable comparable rates.  

If your marketing is great and there are solid leads in there, you will make 1000x whatever you pay someone compared to what you lose by missing the call.  

The PM is listing the properties at market rent, based on what the last comparable in the neighborhood rented for.

It is difficult to navigate the marketing in the commercial world compared to a SFH purchase to live in without renting out.

I would really like to compare my numbers to someone else's spreadsheet for a sanity check.  

In that sense, the institutional market carves out the standards to which other loans are compared. 

If you have comparable properties that match then you may not be overpriced, but I would suggest expanding your marketing efforts.

Equity loans/lines also have little/no closing costs compared to a cash out refinance.