Being I didn't do that, and instead drove slow through he ice we're getting pelted with and then cooked some supper; I thought for sure any lead would be long cold (other agents in my market are starting to wise up...).   

Sometimes, their response time is a little slow when communicating with the office, and I had an issue with them not collecting a late fee from a tenant (and accepting partial payments when I said they shouldn't), but other than that, they get stuff done.

We'd love to invest locally however the the high real estate prices in Vancouver & surrounding burbs make it very difficult to accomplish without the needed deep pockets.  

Getting rid of the commissions is rarely a deep enough discount to make these properties make sense.  

I have started reading around a lot on BP in the past month andI am hoping to start investing later this year or early next year once my life slows down a bit (moving, new job for wife, etc).

Should I bite the bullet and trade off cashflow for a slow and steady starter home?

If they are slow it can make simple bookkeeping an arduous task.- Not all services have the same features. 

Do any current investors have opinions on whether it's worth it to focus on paying off a property rapidly like this as opposed to merely taking it slow and gradually building equity?

@Perry IvyWe have a few converted older properties (Second Empire / Victorian) in which panels were placed in kitchens, hallways and living rooms at the time the building was converted (or when the electrical was updated).One of the things we do in these cases is install a chalkboard/whiteboard/corkboard over them - a plywood box 1 - 2" deep with a  piano hinged door (which is the chalkboard/whiteboard/corkboard).You can purchase both magnetic primer and chalkboard or whiteboard paint ... a little pricy, but a little goes a long way.  

When sales got really slow back in 2005 I had to research as many as 100 properties for everyone 1 I purchased at trustee sale.