We go with whatever agent brings us the deal but we primarily use one when we're out "shopping" (i.e. just going around and looking at listings). 

I've been listing to a man that owns over 4,000 apartment units and I tend to believe what he says and he thinks that apartments is only the good way to go and not to make investments on only other retail, office, or hotel business right now because most retail will continue going down versus on-line shopping with few exceptions and one of them is to acquire retail or office buildings in a high demand area and is in the path of growth and a good economy with diversity, population growth, and job growth and must positive cash flow on day 1.  

If you shop around for an independent granite guy, you will find it for about $30 per square foot plus $200 for an undermount sink.

She said she was good to go so I went shopping and found an amazing deal, a two unit property that’s going to cash flow $800 to $900 a month.

Legal wrap that is a good one.. take out the alienation clause and there you go.. one simple sentence removed from the debt instrument and you have a whole knew lending programfor long term buy and hold 6 and 8 is not bad really.. if you can't get conventional.. its on the lower end of what i know or see.. as long as the 6 is it.. and they don't add on another 3 to 5k in junk fees.what many don't get when they shop loans is they focus on points when in fact many lenders make more money on the junk fees as the points.. small balance loans will have 8 to 10% when you add in points and junk fee's thats what i see on all the huds i look at during the week.. might be 1.5 or 2 points but then 3 to 4k non recurring lender set up and junk fees

My advice is shop around and find a PM that you like and can work with you rather than for you.

The repairs you mentioned seem modest, so i would recommend using your evenings to shop contractors and finding deals on the material you will need.

New investors, or even seasoned ones for that matter, should make sure to shop around for their mortgage. 

I would shop a market you like and Stick to it.  

I cruise yelp for restaurants/shops.