I was considering being an agent because it would put me in the community, while potentially honing my skills and relationships while earning a solid income to invest pending my results.

Also, focus on 2 years of job/income stability.Class D Properties:Cashflow vs Appreciation: Typically, all cashflow with zero or negative relative rent & value appreciationVacancy Est: 20%+ should be used to cover nonpayment, evictions & damages.Tenant Pool: majority will have FICO scores under 560, little to no good tradelines, lots of collections & chargeoffs, recent evictions.

My question:If I were to seller finance and then raise private capital for the rehab, how would I pay back the lender loan other than chewing through income from the rentals since I would already be paying the seller on the finance?

My recommendation is to choose cities in safe and economically diversified areas with above-average income and population growth.

Now, I know you were asking about rental income...and that you can find in the comps too. 

Did you have the rental income coming during the first year you owned or it was vacant? 

Seller financing is a great way for the seller to avoid a lump sum capital gains tax, and still make steady/expected income on a property even after they sell it. 

If you want the income lending/lending funds would probably be a great option, but there is rarely any equity appreciation.

I would not assume renting by the room is going to yield higher gross rents overall or decrease your vacancies.

This means your monthly rental income should be at least 1% of the property's purchase price.