I have seen scores of college graduates try to make it in in real estate, as a agent or investor and other causes and it was a life saver to them to have that degree in order to get a good job when their attempt at self employment and independence crashed.

Do you prefer finding an independent contractor with a good reputation?

If you plan on having other agents working under your "brand" then it's a good idea to create a brand independent from your name.

Also distributions are usually based around P&L and since what you are describing is payment for services (regardless of income/loss), if the IRS ever audited you they would almost certainly re-classify them as guaranteed payments and then back taxes and penalties come into play.You also have the option of setting yourself up to do a real payroll, draw a salary, have the company withhold taxes, etc, but that's a headache in the business that I know I wouldn't want until absolutely necessary.

Is there a way I can reliably search to ensure that a property doesn't have a ton of liens (or even on expensive one) independently and quickly?  

Brokers are independent contractors, not employees, so your managing broker can't make you do anything. 

(1) "Contractor" includes any person, firm, corporation, or other entity who or which, in the pursuit of an independent business undertakes to, or offers to undertake, or submits a bid to, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, develop, move, wreck, or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development, or improvement attached to real estate or to do any part thereof including the installation of carpeting or other floor covering, the erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith, the installation or repair of roofing or siding, performing tree removal services, or cabinet or similar installation; or, who, to do similar work upon his or her own property, employs members of more than one trade upon a single job or project or under a single building permit except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

Assigning a contract is completely independent of selling the contract -- you can assign a contract without getting paid (in fact, in many non-real estate cases, it might make sense for you to pay the other party when you assign a contract to them). 

Just be sure to research your turnkey provider well, get independent successful/happy references, and have a backup plan in case you need to switch to another property manager after acquisition. 

One operates independently of the other and neither have contingencies or requirements for performance on the other.An option price is set based on the anticipated value increase over the term of the property, that is what gives the option to buy its value, why it is worth something.