Yours truly, novice from SA Texas Katie, it'll be very difficult to get a pre-qual letter from a lender without them running your credit.

I hated the idea...but my wife wrote the owners a letter. 

You don't want to be the nicest house on the block. 

You'll need multiple pre-approval letters and credit checks if you try to compare rates.

Send out a letter to the tenant to let them know you are the new landlord/owner of the property and you want to assess each unit to see if there is any fixer uppers needed and you'd potentially raise rent.

House is blocks away from Old Town, but I think with the market so hot right now, I'm with @Greg Scott - those numbers aren't great - and with that profit you could purchase in a lower cost of living area (hopefully where you moved, which would be an easier property to manage too!)

They are doing phone interviews, one time, then giving them a letter stating that they are recommending 1-3 animals.

I decided to get pre-approved with another bank although I was already pre-underwritten with another institution because they promised much lower rate as well as a big cash back.My question is: This agent asked me if I could send him my pre-approval letter from the other institution I was pre-approved with along with all my other papers. 

A good realtor is really key, there are better neighborhoods within all these cities and you want to make sure you're buying in the most desirable blocks.

Bottom line here is keep your rates on par with the rest of the market, you get to decide to buy a big 4/2 a few blocks from the water or a 3/1 a few miles from the water.