@Tushar ShahConsider the following: Take a logic based approach same as you would if you want to be an doctor or engineer.

These are extra services as the appraiser must pull sale comps and now rental comps, $600 is logical to me.

2nd question - What seems most logical to me right now is to  build up a cash account not tied to the 401K then start to work a real estate wealth creation plan once I have cash in hand. 

They can crunch numbers and make logical decisions pretty well, but their knowledge on risk management, the contract, and covering their own backside is usually pretty terrible, especially when it comes to technically tricky issues and problems arising within an escrow.Now, granted this may be 100x bigger of an issue in my highly litigious state compared to yours, but I still think it's important wherever you go.Additionally, getting rid of your "middleman" might sound appealing, but - assuming you have a sharp agent - it's often about as smart as getting rid of your attorney and representing yourself in a lawsuit, or performing a surgery on yourself.

I'm more than happy to reverse my thoughts if presented with logical, factual information.

If testing the waters or returning a favor for a relationship, maybe I could see the logic.

I thought of myself as a pretty logical person...

Logic is thrown out the window and $30,000 sounds like a deal.Don't fall for these tactics my friends.I've seen far too many, what would otherwise be smart people fall for these scams.You've been forewarned.

That has zero logic.  

Just try to look at it logically and make the best choice for your situation.