The area that you designate as the home office can potentially be written off on your tax return.For example if your personal residence is 1000 square feet and you use 200 square feet regularly and exclusively related to your freelance business; you can deduct 20% of your utilities, water etc.What you can deduct for the rental business, your home office deduction and personal(non-deductible) can be complicated.

The code section that applies is 55-248.6, which provides the definition of "notice":   "Notice" means notice given in writing by either regular mail or hand delivery, with the sender retaining sufficient proof of having given such notice, which may be either a United States postal certificate of mailing or a certificate of service confirming such mailing prepared by the sender.

I don't expect free knowledge and am willing to discuss bartering services.

. #5  Get to know the neighborhood police officers, city officials, and social service organizations in your area.

When we sell them, I get a small percentage of the fee from our service.

I will definitely reach out if I need your services.

if you have no other income  sources  -try to locate work with a firm that will  pay some sort of  base salary as you  begin  learning the  ropes  as  getting decent income is likely going to  take  time ...if you locate a place like this  - your  commission  split will be lower as  compared to  working as a  regular  100 commissioned loan offer

You'll see they do not allow 2nd's on their regular Home Possible program (but they will allow up to a 4 unit property; perfect for house hacking), but they will allow an affordable housing second (like the ones I referenced above) on a single family property.  

I'm wondering if anybody has used their service and what's it like?

On the broker vs agent instate vs out of state - to me it comes down to the quality of the policy issued and the level of service that agent will give.