In Illinois, this means that I have to hang my license for two years before I can start my own real estate company, etc.

What does that mean, when rents are still going up in most markets.  

They will provide me an registered agent for 1 year and then $99 for year after. 

Meaning the creditor will lend you up to the appraised value of the home plus certain other expenses such as closing costs.

Having said that, being that busy means higher commissioned sales are probably higher priority and submitting ridiculous low ball offers could be a negative on them considering experience.

Don't rationalize any numbers, or use anything other than cash (i.e. equity, appreciated gain, tax deductions, ...) since those other items are NOT CASH.3 - If you have a negative number, that means you get more cash back in your deal, within the first year, than you spent (so in this case...used)...and you have a winner.4 - If you have a positive number, that means you have spent money to buy this property...your money.5 - If you fall into the #3 category, you have recovered all your initial cash (seed money).  

Of course there's the rare unicorn mentioned above.Investing with low and no money down doesn't mean you can't have any money..

Some push back on price, but if they do, that means that they aren't the right tenant for us. 

I am not sure what that is exactly means in the contract.

It's not paying your bills or providing your with gas money (your cash flow does that...more on that in a second)...so if you have a use for that equity, meaning you can leverage it to gain MORE investment properties, then who cares what the fees are?