.#4 good call.Immerse yourself in real estate knowledge...books, podcasts, forums, blogs...and analyze many deals. 

This guy has a blue collar job, on paper borderline, but the way he aced the security deposit issue convinced me that this is one of the indicators of a good tenant.That's why tenants who couldn't even come up with the month is in my book, certain sign of trouble.

I just booked an appointment with Paul to discuss further.

This is my first rental and first turn so I'm trying to nail down the best strategy for standardizing bath design to prevent mildew, reduce risk of damage, and make cleaning easier.After a lot of reading the forums, below is what I'm planning to have done.Main questions for the forums are: 1) am I missing anything?

@Jon RolandHave you looked into Brandon T's book on investing investing with no and low money down?

I’m just torn between the VA Loan or a standard mortgage.

Also just for the record owning/financing a solar system is superior to leasing in my book partly because returns are better and for other reasons as well, but in the case of investment property when the owner can’t claim the tax credit, then in that case leasing is currently the best option for going solar.

I am thinking of doing a cash out refi on the rental to fully payoff my primary residence if it would be advantageous from a tax perspective (given the new tax law's higher standard deduction for schedule A, I may not qualify for itemized for W2 income).  

As far as financing for new buildings, again I could refer you to some great banks that may want you to put down the standard 20-25% or I may be able to assist with more creative finaincing through our Lending company. 

I’ve done what I consider required reading and I keep all these books around personally indexed as references.