My real estate agent doesn't seem to know who pays the utilities so I assumed I paid everything but gas and electric because that's common in ABQ. 

It’s a paid membership but I don’t mind sharing.

He knew that I always paid cash, bought as/is, and was ready for a deal.

@Marina Flu, since you paid cash for the property, ask some local lenders about delayed refinancing programs. 

The issue at hand is I have paid thousands to an attorney, had to leave work twice and be at court, not to mention that they still bought 30 days of extra free rent to do this. 99% percent of the time the people I screen are wonderful.

I profit a little over 3k a month after all the bills for the three houses are paid. 

I was thinking that they get paid the most when there is turnover, so has anyone been successful in crafting an agreement that rewards for:Tenant longevityShort vacancyKeeping repair costs down (I do want to address issues though)Dunno...

If going conventional route or agency route, Interest only for the first 1-3 years is available, esp with Agency financing, depending on term length, but you're still going to be locked into some type of pre-pay just because they are 30 year amortizing loans.

He finally paid the landlord for all that was due and the landlord stopped sending him Christmas cards.

Once you acquire, you start your rehab, let's say you upgrade the kitchen and it costs you $15k -- you submit your receipts to the lender to show you paid $15k for the kitchen, and they send someone out to verify the kitchen is done.