One example given is that outside of your SDIRA - if you sell a property , it is immediately subjected to taxation to the tune of 20% or so - that means you only have 80% of that money available to invest into another property - of course you can do a 1031 exchange to defer the taxes - but doing a 1031 exchange is not always that easy - there are certain restrictions and time limits that you have to adhere to or you wont be able do it properly - you have to identify your subject property within 45 days and many investors will identify multiple properties so that if they don't get the offer accepted on one - then they have others to fall back on  - if you cant find another property quickly - then you may not be able to 1031 it.

The LLC may help a little if it is and has been properly created and properly administered but if someone dies or gets a serious injury, one way or another the LLC won't keep you completely out of harm's way. 

I start looking 2 months ahead to insure I have plenty of applicants and that they have given proper notice to their present landlord.

I really want to understand how this is supposed to be calculated so I do it properly when analyzing properties.

Also, assuming you are properly pricing it, anyone trying to do a private sale without an agent is most likely going to try to get you at a discount knowing you don't have it listed with an agent.It's free to interview agents, so you should speak with 2 or 3 and make sure you're maximizing your return.

NZ is great place to live and bring up family BUT most towns are slow to growth and the rent to price ratio is pretty low, hard to get  proper cash-flow and cash on cash return unless you put big deposit. 

I know every broker is different, but how did yours react?

I plan to do everything legally (if this is legal) with rental contracts and proper paper trail.If YES, would it make sense to rent at my mortgage rate or standard rate?

It doesn't make any sense to charge a well prepared investor 6% when they know how to stage the property properly, and price it right from the beginning.Would love to help you but unfortunately i am not in your area:(

Pmi may cost .500% and if planning properly, may only last 3 to 5 years if you are prepaying your mortgage and the property appreciates.