Here's time & money an agent or PMC needs to spend to get a rental listed:1) Make sure it's clean2) Hopefully, take professional pics and just not use the camera-phone3) Take room sizes and note positives and negatives about the property4) Since most rentals aren't advertised on MLS, research multiple sources for rental comparables to determine rent.5) Write a GREAT ad for the property6) Syndicate or manually enter the ad on numerous websitesThen, once published for rent, how much time do you think they spend taking all the phone calls (most of them from idiots who don't take the time to read the ad), doing all the showings, chasing applications & supporting docs, processing applications?

Now the real estate commission here has instructed agents NOT to measure, but to just use the best source of info that we have available like public records and fill out the square footage disclosure stating where we got the square footage info from.

The franchisor is incentive is too place as many locations as possible in an area to maximize royalty income and franchise fee income, up to the point that the franchisees are no longer profitable,  The franchisee on the other hand wants as few other franchisees in his area as possible since he has almost no concern about the franchisor maximizing their income, he wants to maximize HIS OWN net income and franchise value.   

With two units available, if one remains vacant, the rental income from the other unit can help cover your mortgage costs. 

So don't ask - just do a National Screen on all applicants from an independent source - and let your minimum credit score criteria be the reason for non-acceptance. 

I'm going to be looking to get my realty license primarily to benefit my own investing ventures rather than actively looking to take on clients as a stream of income.

Or, like many "courses", it is really just a pitch to get their students to start doing the work for them (sourcing deals, raising capital, etc).  

I'm not looking to get rich or replace a W2, but I am looking to build a portfolio of properties that will eventually add to my income streams in retirement.

I'm hesitant to quit my current job and rely solely on real estate investment for income. 

New investors, and all investors for that matter, should be saving at least 10% of all their income for this purpose.