However; when the market crashed, we relocated to southern California where the market rebounds faster.

Versus investors who are numbers-driven, make decisions a lot faster, less hand-holding, and a lot of them pay cash (not all) so the providers are able to sell through multiple houses more in the same period of time than with primary homebuyers and with a fraction of the hand-holding headaches.As far as the markups, I wrote an article about my take on them0http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/02/16/turnkey/

Double check on your State LLC annual costs because I was under the notion that the state of PA charged $500/yr for LLC and sent in the payment.

You will grow your capital and portfolio exponentially faster.

The franchised ones will charge you for MLS fees, monthly fees, who knows what fees, and if you aren't a full-time agent you will be paying for nothing.

We also have lien issues for utilities - I get around this is in one of two ways depending on the property:1. charge a $40-$50/mo utility fee per person in the unit.

I've never dealt with a bank that is fast about anything (other than charging silly fees on my personal accounts), so I wouldn't expect them to jump on your interest in the property regardless of how it would benefit them.The good thing about real estate investing is that there is always another deal around the corner.

He charges $3000 up front and then we partner up and split all of my deals for a year.

When you sayjust trying to sell us an extra 30K policy to cover the issues. do you mean Insure an amount of $30K or actually charge you $30K out of pocket.

There is usually only a charge if you print something.Jay