So if you provide that service for someone then you are entitled to charge for your knowledge of potentially qualifying a borrower. 

Maybe use this to help with closing costs and improvements for your multi-unit home you want to live in/rent the other units.This would let you charge more for the other units being rented and increases your cash flow.

Questions: Seller proposes to value the house at $85,000 and charge 5% interest for the first year, and incrementally increase the rate to incentivize the refinancing. 1) Is it likely that the buyer would be able to refinance within a three year period given his credit situation?

I'd also charge them a principal payment + interest to cover my expenses + whatever my desired profit is. 

If anyone insists on mailing their payment, charge a fee for "processing" the payment and definitely charge a late fee if it's not in your hands by the due date.Sign up for Cozy.co or another online rent payment system.

What rents do you charge?

One reason is the customer doesnt realize that the 3 hours that I spent picking up materials is part of that hourly charge . 

I typically use 8%.In addition to charging a percentage of gross rents, most property managers will take a larger percentage of the first month's rent for any new lease executed.

For a duplex, i would just be sure you are buying in an area people want to live, and that it is priced in such a way that you can charge a medium amount of rent.

Regarding bear: there was a case last summer of a fishing guide in AK who got charged in dense brush by a Grizz and was able to stop it with a few rounds from a pocket 9 using +P, point blank so its possible although not recommended (12 gauge with slugs, 30.06, .454 etc would be better obviously, but a .9 in the pocket is better than a bazooka in the truck).