It will almost definitely be more expensive and take longer than you anticipate, and those HMLs aren't cheap. 

what state is the property in and what is it.. is it 1 to 4 units.. the website shows no licenes so there are 12 or so states that licenses are required for 1 to 4 unit no matter owner occ or not.

It's easy to obtain, costs very little, and doesn't require extra, on-going effort to maintain. 

The buyers agent will have you sign the form that clearly states what they require for commission.

Having a stable job can help you handle unexpected expenses and save for buying new properties.Many new investors are often looking for deals with good cashflow, but these are usually in less safe areas because they come with higher risks then investors are expecting higher cashflow.I suggest focusing on the long-term growth in property value rather than immediate cashflow.

Hml should not require that in advance. instead, if building new, reconfiguring, etc, something a municipality might not go far, they are perhaps looking for now security before purchasing. which of these sounds like what you've encountered? 

Loan Options: Utilizing an FHA loan is helpful since it requires little down.

I used RLS back in 2018, when they were still ascending in their fame and riches, and not yet so expensive.

It could very well be the route that is "cheapest" now, ends up being substantially more expensive down the road.If the costs above are not worth it to you...maybe pass on the LLC and get yourself a good insurance policy, and maybe an umbrella policy personally.

Crexli and Loopnet are expensive but useful for research purposes.What do you recommend?