For illustration purposes, the investor with engineering and/or construction background may excel building in a market where there is ease in doing business and can build efficiently whereas the doctor may have greater success in the established market where significant barriers already exist but can afford the entry price and can ride the waive of continued appreciation and offset their high salary by depreciating the expensive building they acquired.  

Also, you may charge a premium on the rent (higher rent) in this model of leasing.If you charge them a higher upfront option fee, it will demonstrate that the buyer is committed reduce the likelihood of default.

Nine  states are COMMUNITY PROPERTY STATES, where all property accumulated during the marriage, OR the INCREASE in value of existing separate property (property accumulated prior to the marriage), is considered community property which can only be divided 50/50, UNLESS the division is made to offset some other imbalance .  

This is my 1st post and I am so incredibly thankful that a forum like this exists and for any information to help guide me through this tough decision is so immensely appreciated! 

Or would you suggest other methods to gather data and insights before committing to a subscription?

You want to know the total demand and the existing competition.  

I always hear that due to liability and taxes etc, investment properties should go into an LLC.What is the best way to turn my existing home into a rental?

Demand for rentals is near non-existent in this specific town during the winter, and demand is extremely hot in the summer months.

The last part they showed us a TED talk and we had to write on a paper what I want to do before dying...then we had to stick these words to the "commitment wall"...Lastely, they ask us if we d like a one on one strategy the next day during the lunch (yes we are hard worker who saccrifies even lunch for what we want).

Perhaps they would make more money if STR was an option, however if that's not permitted in their location, no STR demand exists, or no STR PM is willing to take on their property, they may not have that option.