My point was that your experience supports my observation in the sense that I think they are trying to be "market makers" and sort of control prices. 

That doesn't last long because you end up with hours a day you are not selling and just helping others sell.I would recommend talking to other agents in the area and see what kind of support systems are available.

For purposes of the definition: • Gross receipts are reduced by returns and allowances made during the tax year, • An employee is considered full time if employed at least 30 hours per week for 20 or more calendar weeks in the tax year, and • All members of the same controlled group and all persons under common control generally are considered to be one person—see section 44(d)(2).

It might not sound like much but my entire smart home system as it is currently installed (video doorbell, smart thermostat, smart fire alarm, and 2 water leak sensors) is 300. 

And then to prove their power they threaten you with penalties because now your old paint has faded and is not in compliance with the approved colors, or it is peeling or whatever.The POA is controlled by folks that moved here from NY, east coast, etc, not locals and they have let their position go to their heads, plus they really like rules to control others.

Also water heater life is controlled by maintenance, usage, thermocouple, piezo quality. 

With this FHA loan, you'll be giving up a lot of control to the lender, cutting your cash flow significantly, a ridiculous ~4.5% annual Mortgage Insurance payment, will be subject to annual audits and regulatory costs, and high up-front fees with long closing periods. 

It really hit on something that I know I need to do but put off and never get done, which is to put proper systems in place.

Yes, absolutely yes, review items such as crime trends, median income, unemployment figures, non-farm payroll figures and growth respective of that, school system health, general GDP growth of the prospective market.

They need to build new pumps and systems to help with the major issue of flooding.