They will also be able to help you tell a good deal from a bad one and can help you learn how to estimate your repair costs, marketing costs, estimated time on market etc.Your experience level will go a long way in determining how things go.

After running the numbers, we determined it to be a suitable first property that would cashflow ~$300/month --if we got the rent we wanted.

Pricing will be determined by your FICO and the desired LTV.

This tenant was stubborn, and was bound and determined to get his way. 

I wanted to ask about how folks here approach doing research on a rental area to determine if it's a good place to be and how granular do you usually get?  

If you wanted to share on a public forum, from the following I could determine (or contact a lender):  start date of loan, starting loan amount, length of loan (e.g. 30yr fixed). 

Because, you could talk to just about any lender you want, but if you don't have a way to qualify (be it income, asset, gross income, etc.) you are still going to be sol.Yup, so either educate yourself on how buying power is determined and/or start contacting some lenders and see what they can and cannot do for you, and why. 

First, determine the market you want to invest in and also identify a secondary market.

Being able to review prior ESAs would aid in determining whether to spring $30k on a new Phase II or terminate the contract.

This will help you determine the best strategy for you.