Should I stick to hard deadlines or show that I am willing to be flexible? 

A few of the fees and estimatesMLS - $1000Board Dues - $1000E&O Insurance - $1000Licensing Fees - $300Continuing Education $400Electronic Lock Box Access - $300Brokerage Fees - Varies.My business overhead on being an agent is right around $25-$30k per year, and I run a pretty tight ship.

We've opted to hold tight as oppossed to making adjustments in the rent amount or condition of the units. 

However, with all those expense, you seem to be running a tight budget.

If your goal is to have a rental, then start collecting rent and get a lease in place with them.If the rent makes sense and you want to flip it to another investor, same thing, get a short term lease in place and sell it as a turnkey tenant in place rental.If you want to live in it, then you may want to get them moved out on your terms...and have them pay rent in the meantime.If there is a redemption period and there is a chance they will redeem and you would rather have the house than the redemption fee, then sit tight until the redemption period is over. 

I'm glad they communicated with me but I'm not going to extend my deadline just because they keep me updated.

If things are tight, you could also figure out creative ways to lower your expenses.

Timing is a bit tight right now as I am in the DD period on an 117-unit.

The market up here seems quite tight right now, just doesn't seem like there is a whole lot on the mls fitting what I would be looking for.

I've heard that buying training has a great payoff because it catapults you to the next level but it just depends on how much you can self teach or whether you are tight on time and have the resources to do it!