It is the #1 destination for real estate, bar none.As agents we collectively gave them that power, in the early days if the MLS was smart they would of been the zillow of today. but with all the infighting, gross duplication of efforts, protected profits and sheer shortsightedness on the MLS's part if they made a national MLS it would of been a different story and agents would have continued the monopoly [good or bad depending on your stance].

I understand their reluctance, but I wonder if things might change if you're able to show them that a cash flowing property in Tennessee could very well end up paying for itself, while your 9-5 in animation continues to pay down the mortgage on your condo.

Development in the area is pretty much guaranteed to continue for another 5-10 years.

I hope to continue learning from the experience of others here on Biggerpockets, I've found their podcasts to be very enlightening. 

If you don’t immediately take steps to let a tenant know you are not playing around, they, like children, will continue to test your boundaries.  

How ever you plan to save for the first down payment continue to save that way for the second and add your added cash flow to that.Hope this help let me know if you have other questions.

I continue to charge the tenants until I have possession, which includes keys.What you could do if you choose to and which is probably better in your case is to complete the walk through and then let them leave. 

If tenant continues to refuse once I get to the property what's the best course of action in your experience?

I actually just put an offer on a home that I will be using as a primary home, the owner passed away after living in it for 20 years and her kids didn't continue paying for the home so now its foreclosed.

My thoughts on this may change as I continue to read/learn about other options but this is my thought process as of now :).And one last question...Does it make sense to start working on getting preapproval now or wait until I get closer to being at a place where I'm closer to making my first purchase?