Most title company’s will charge a fee for each draw.

You can then bill additional fees/utilities, etc as needed.

But I've chosen not to do a VA loan with them or anyone because they are more expensive than conventional with their 'funding fee'. 

I'm thinking this would be beneficial as I wouldn't have to worry about the tenant not paying rent, I would be building equity over time in a market it would otherwise be very difficult for me to enter, and I'd be able to minimize fees by finding the lowest cost property management possible (as I wouldn't need to worry about tenant screening, etc). 

Burien is one of the few municipalities around that hasn't enacted any further rent regulations on top of state regulations, except for a licensing fee.  

Instead, I would strongly recommend acting as a "bird dog" or finder and then referring the notes you find to an institutional investor for a fee.

For $12,500 you will pay a lot higher fees and costs due to the lower amount.

So the question would be will the buyer's bank allow an assignment fee on the CD/Settlement Statement?

How is a fair “fee” for the bird-dogging service I’m basically doing calculated?

You'll be able to avoid Realtor fees pretty easy which is 6%.