What I saw from big lenders online was noticeably lower but I don't know how that impacts FHA lending. 

We are using an online listing brokerage for the sale since we went over budget on the reno.

Any documents about my deal were to be sent to info[at]tjwprivatelending[dot]com.

I am strongly considering starting the online courses myself but, like you, I plan to keep my W2 and use my license to save on acquisition costs or to make some money on the side through organic referrals, friends, family, etc. 

Found them off the Quickbooks website under the Support/Find a QB ProAdvisor section and they basically held my hand through the whole process of how to do enter transactions, import my credit card statements online, cleaned up my chart of accounts, etc. 

They just don't happen that often when documentation is tight and a good QI with standing is used.  

Do you just find statistics of a given area online, or talking with everyone you interact with, or other ways?

They never have to deal with entitled high-maintenance tenants who've only ever lived with mom and dad; tracking down late rent from the same person over and over; crossing town for showings only for the person to flake; going through the work of calling all references for multiple co-tenants only for the accepted applicants to back out 30 minutes before your holding deposit meeting--after you've crossed town to meet them and gone to Kinko's to print all the documents; tenants who give you stink eye while you're in their apartment to fix a light switch (only 2 hours after they called to report needing a repair even though you live across town), etc. etc. etc.  

Or simply go to county doc office online search?

If you weren't credited with the deposit, and there's no documentation that would support a claim that it had been used for some previous purpose, you're on the hook for it.