Same applies in REI, IMO.I'll go right to step two and say appreciate the power of leverage and protect your credit. 

@Benjamin Cate Welcome to Bigger Pockets and congratulations on switching to real estate investing full time!

Here's a briefing on what's going on:The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new rule that combines mortgage disclosures previously established by the Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA) and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) into a single rule effective October 3, 2015.

The loan officer seems to be overly protective of the appraiser.  

We did negotiated work which means little to no competition and we protected those relationships.Each of them had employees on staff or architect relationships that helped them develop budgets before bringing us on board.  

You are a talented OH contract attorney.Here are the issues...Credit is tight, and if you agents out there want to help home sellers -sell fast -at top dollar -without an agent's commission-close fast-get 10 per cent down-and protect the seller if there is a vender buyer default in paymentsAND Get 3% fee, as a principal operatorPm me if you need help

The only thing I would add is that you are correct that the exchange fees you would incur, even if the deal did bust up and the contingency clauses etc... all are certainly plausible ways to protect you.  

Would anybody be able to refer me to a good real estate attorney with experience on setting up holding and management companies, and landlord/tenant law in the Houston, Texas area?Thank you in advanceWilliam

Regular real estate brokers who don't do any buy and hold investing don't add much value when it comes to what really important, like protecting your investment.  

My concern is that it feels unreasonable, almost like a "bait and switch", But I don't want to sustain a rental loss either.Since I can easily find new tenants, and will have little vacant time, is raising it and letting them move if necessary a better tactic than doing a partial increase as consideration fir them as good tenants?