Many people have problems figuring out layout or the size of rooms without it being staged. 

It is rarely a good idea to buy anything that does not cashflow, definitely not at this stage in your investing career.

If rents drop catastrophically you have a long way to adjust them if you own free and clear.But you are also getting the benefit of leverage on the other property.And best of all you are setting the stage for future growth by concentrating equity. 

Is this a common arrangement that investors are able to set up with buyer-brokers? 

That's why it's done, to resolve an unworkable arrangement. 

I've got 7 new construction build to rent projects in various stages of construction right now with the first one set to complete next month.

“The U.S. housing market is at the beginning stages of the most significant contraction in activity since 2006,” he said, adding: 

Developers will catch this during the feasibility stage and it is an added cost to them to have the city upsize their utilities.

Meanwhile, for sellers, the party has ended, and they're frustrated, making 'wasted' mortgage payments as it sits on the market for longer (especially true of vacant/staged homes, 90 days on market means they've "wasted" 3 mortgage payments on a house they aren't even using any more!).

Far too many get stuck in the "paralysis by analysis" stage, thinking they just don't know enough to get started.