The Lone Star State was estimated to have a population of 29,527,941 by July of this year, and its growth rate has been consistent over the last few years.California, however, lost an estimated 261,902 residents from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021, which would mark just the second year for the population of the Golden State to fall since at least 1900.https://www.bizjournals.com/au...The Census estimates still peg California as the most populous state with roughly 39,237,836 residents, though the federal agency also surmised the state lost the most residents — 367,299 — to domestic migration.Overall, the U.S. population grew an estimated 0.1% in 2021, the slowest rate in history.

One of the mainstream options out there for you might be FHA - FHA requires a minimum down payment of 3.5% but also, (one of your other replies mentioned buying a multi-family property), allows for 1-4 units (as do many loans) but you do need to live in the property. 

Can we please get some recommendations on a great agency she should consider working with that has a great team, training and perks in the Clearwater/St Petersburg area?

If you later want to do a cash-out refi with agency debt, you'll need to put them back in your name and season them for 6 months.

Try to relax, hire an attorney and make sure you immediately abide by some legal obligations you are most-likely not aware of e.g. you may need to file reports with some government agencies and you may be required to provide your tenant with some types of benefits e.g. money, or whatever, but if you fail to provide your tenant with some things you will look like an animal in court and a jury will hit you hard with damages.Sorry!  

That could happen if you work with a temp agency for example.

Perhaps call a title agency in Florida to ask.

@Prasanna K. in Texas, agents are not allowed to represent both parties aka "dual agency." 

We top performers in this niche of real estate industry, we are the Unicorns of R.E. agency and we know it, we have people beating down our door hourly to work with them, buy from them, sign up with them, move agency to them, OPEN an agency with them etc etc etc etc, the last thing we want is yet another annoyance.

Not being stuck in a buyer agency for a whole area, they want it per property and 1-3 month time period.