I would encourage you to wait for someone better.

I think this outcome is unlikely, television, radio and many other avenues encourage every day folks to become 'investors', and they make flipping houses look easy or cool. 

Last month, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the relatives of dead stimulus checks recipients need to return the money.

I think they are much more receptive to that in years past since they are actually encouraging Additional Dwelling Units (ADU's) in Boise to try to create more affordable housing options.

Payments that have already been claimed by the recipient cannot be canceled.

As long as you can resist pressure to act and run your numbers carefully, you'll learn and grow as an investor.It sounds like you've searched diligently, so based on your post, I'd encourage you to go with the agent you have the best personal connection with.

That was really encouraging.

My financial advisor has highly encouraged me to not do any REI right now, and to pay off the loans, apply for PSLF, etc.

After you check reviews (usually not many of them, so rarely helpful) and get referrals (the best thing), I'd encourage you to put more of your focus in learning how to do thorough due diligence on the properties, not the providers.

For example:Monthly rent = $600Monthly utility fee of $97 collected with rent each month.This keeps your monthly rent at a lower rate while still disclosing to the tenant that the utility fee amount will be collected.In general in the future as you look to grow your investments that aren't house-hacks I'd encourage you to not pay utilities on behalf of the tenants unless the market demands it.