They found the cat as a stray kitten, it is now fully grown and likely not trained evidenced by all the stains on the carpets.These carpets are new, installed by seller right before I purchased the house a year ago.I was thinking $800 or higher...

Will this ultimately affect the 10-treasury bond that drives mortgages rates?

I'm sure this is one of the things that has been driving me toward real estate investment or entrepreneurship in general. 

Any neighborhood you drive through, there are home owners.

My team leader is training me to find investment opportunities for a few foreign investors who she has found many profitable deals for in the past.  

I think it always safer to invest within an hours drive of where you live.

every time i drive by any apartment complex i wonder how and who bought that complex. 

I'd recommend brining in a mold inspector on all properties for 2 reasons:1) We are trained and know what to look for2) It can save you a lot of money in your negotiations.

Despite this, I am very confident in my analysis and numbers (I'm an engineer by training and enjoy the numbers aspect of real estate investing), so I could leverage my analysis as a means to convince lenders despite not having a track record of deals. 

Hire character, train skill.