With each one I have a engagement contract that clearly spells out their responsibilities and independence.

There are generally 2 routes to take: hire him as an employee (of which he will pay withholding tax, thus lowering his income), or hiring him as an independent contractor (of which he will be able to write-off anything he does for you.) 

Our daughter is grown and fully independent and we are now looking towards retirement.

Have you tried to talk to any of the independent mortgage brokers to see what they can find for you at all?

Any bank with any sort of underwriting standards is going to ask, already know, and independently verify the answers to the most of the above questions, so you might as well answer them up front and bring the bank documentation of your analysis.

I would like to be financially independent and become a part-time real estate investor in the states! 

The school districts don't rate statistically with the best of Ohio (although Rocky River is ranked very high and just minutes away if that's what you're aiming for) but they're still great.

That way you can be an independent broker and not have to work for anyone.

Statistically, almost never.

Appraisers are  mostly independent.