I would like to ask certain questions but feel like with so many talented investors my concerns are so trivial and pale in comparison to what everyone else is doing.

I disagree with your comparison of marriage to flipping a coin or russian roulette.

I helped new agents to make offers on HUD houses and they still thought that it's too  complicated in comparison to residential housesYou need to build relationship with agent who's also an investor

Comparison is the biggest Joy stealer.

Realize that the properties have to be similar for a true comparison.

It'll have the cash out refinance rate hit, of course, but that pales in comparison to getting a killer deal on the sticker price upfront, on the home that you got to cherry pick as a cash buyer.

If you're not familiar as to setting up a seller financed note, I strongly suggest you sell and invest in what you know.Seller financing puts your equity to work at a higher rate usually than what you would get if you were to invest the cash after taxes, that is not to say the note is a better investment than buying discounted notes.There is no RE deal that pulls the ROI that a discounted note can pull when it is refinanced shortly afterwards at the UPB or even below, no comparison, not a guru ploy on the face of the earth dealing in dirt that can compete with notes......that's why I went to more notes, LOL.But, reality, anytime there are greater potential profits, the greater the competition, the greater the knowledge required and the higher the barrier to entry in that field.

I'm sure there are locations that work as John Fedro described with additional money due over the rental comparison, but I try to stay about $50-$100 less than a comparable rental for my prices to make it a no brainer decision for a buyer to want to own their own place.

I think it was worth all of 5900.00 in comparison to others so I put an offer in on it at $4500 and they accepted. 

With that number you now have your comparison point for shopping QI's for cost and structure of a reverse exchange.