Columbus market is growing really fast with larger companies like Intel, Amazon, and google shifting here. 

That starts with leadership at that company you select to protect your investment.  

I have been using meters from a company called True- Submeter for the past 5 years.

This is because we have spent a lot of years slogging through nothing and several major value add live and flips and a fix and flip during GFC to get to place where we own the house and have a bit of IRA and enough to start building an empire (evil laugh).   

Would it make sense to start your own PM company for this purpose and have spouse as sole employee who receives compensation from the small rental portfolio? 

He says he will set up the LLC for you and lists his company as the registered agent and as the person setting up the new LLC.  

My VA takes care of most things and he is MUCH cheaper than paying a property management company 15%-20%.

Confirm with title company that understands local transfer tax regs but in most states, even if transferred for a nominal amount there are transfer tax consequences based on the assessed value.

We will pay the Z people for low quality leads, r.com for junk leads, 100 other lead companies for junk leads and try to call FSBOs and Expireds and do anything not to call or not to call people we know. 

I'd advise resending the contract, this time with your EMD included, and arranging for it to be wired directly to the attorney or title company.