It is so important to protect yourself legally because there are great risks to be incurred from a financial liability side, and you want to ensure that if the property defaults, no one goes after you specifically for that money, and if the property does foreclose, that your exceptional credit score does not get ruined.With that being said, what would probably make the most sense is getting the mortgage in your name, and then transferring this over to the LLC.

With the exception of 15k I keep put away for a rainy day.

Or start a business if your are exceptional at business.QRPs or qualified retirement plans (Solo 401ks, checkbook IRAs, etc) are the answer to that person with a bunch of money in their existing 401K or IRA.It's pretty typical that someone listens to the Simple Passive Cashflow podcast, signs up for the investor club, and books a free intro call has 200k-600k locked up in garbage retail investments AKA 401K.Stop whatever you do don't roll over an old employers 401K into your current employers 401K.

Sometimes there are no benefits to owning in an LLC except the liability protection in CA for example it costs $800 a year just to have the LLC and you don't get that nice 20% deduction unless you can document hours for the "business" which may be tough to do if you only have 1 unit. 

All houses on this street are nice except the direct neighbor - we will try to tactfully market to them to get them to sell to us now or in the future Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Most folks try to put it under contract asap without telling anyone except their clients as we have a fiduciary duty.  

Because I want the investors to get well above average returns, I'm always looking for the rare pearls, exceptional deals that will pay investors handsomely while leaving something for me too for finding, creating and managing the opportunity.

They all are , except Monticello .

Nothing really stops a property manager from such extra charges except the agreement you signed.Whether preparing 1099s should be included in their management fee is subject to negotiation if not spelled out in the agreement.

For ease, most of my materials come directly from Home Depot, except for paint.