Alternatively, you can look into roles with the top commercial brokerages, I know the big ones have world class training programs that will greatly increase your real estate investing knowledge.

@Lior Reich  The fine is increases $800 a day. 

Curious, does replacing the septic system with a new and up to code system increase the value of the property?

On the other hand, maybe we locate it first and then 1031 exchange the older properties, increasing our new cash flow even more if we don't have to pay capital gains, affording us a larger property.

The property taxes increased from $3000 to $5000 in 2011.3.

(Of course that would be contingent upon you becoming an agent at that brokerage and staying there for 6-12 months or something of that nature.)Other good questions to ask them would be what are their commission splits, a breakdown of ALL fees (monthly or annually), what their commission cap is, whether they provide leads for you and if the commission changes if they do, how often they provide training and what the topics of the trainings usually are, do they provide mentoring to help you work through deals, etc.Also, keep in mind that there are fees that the Broker has no control over such as MLS access, ($300/6 mo in PA), Realtor dues if the Broker is a member of the association of Realtors ($600/yr in PA), marketing materials, cost of yard signs, networking associations to network with investors, etc.

Depending on your interest rate your refi might actually help reduce your mortgage payment and increase cash flow. 

It is confusing to look at the Zillow website and it says a new kitchen costs 30k and increases your home value 26k.

Since these loans are short term in nature, almost all are interest only payments.

And the trend has slowed down greatly since the 1990s, to a barely 1 percent yearly increase