Higher education, medicine, farming, ranching, rail, mining, tourism, oil & gas, financial center, tax free shopping for Wyoming residents ;), Billings has it all. 

Honestly everyone will have different opinions, many including myself say "welcome" to mixing business with family :)That being said, I would shop around "quickly".

You are not shopping for best price, you are shopping for best advice.  

If it's close to attractions, shopping, bars, casinos, lakes or anywhere people might want to spend the night then furnished is the only way to go.

@Rosston Smith I'd step back, and shop around a bit.  

I am a new licensee in DC area.I have interviewed with large brokerages and few mom and pop shops that deal is rather luxury segment.While big firms offer 65/35 splits and training, the mom and pop shops offer 25/75 on the listing side and 50/50 on buyer side, but they offer small shop setup, and mentoring/hand holding and handful of agents.

When you are shopping for this service where to you look for a qualified agent?  

We talked shop for a while and he told me that he has been able to get equity for his deals through some sort of life settlement structure using insurance policies that he purchases at a discount from people who are perceived to be terminally ill, aged or some other reason why there is a higher likelihood that the policy could be redeemed for a higher value.  

Some people fall into a shopping mode and simply want to consider a new rental.

Are they looking away, looking down, etc.There are certain body signals to deception where people will say the right things but their body language shows off their true intentions.Nothing is 100% safe but there are steps you can take to put things in your favor.