I hope this makes some level of sense - wanting a return call without outwardly stating I want to buy the house, in the message.    

Granted I know nothing about website building and don't plan to learn so there an appreciable level of convenience that I know I would enjoy but outside of that should I say thanks but no thanks a go a little cheaper website building route.

I am a small LL with 13 rental units in 9 buildings. Most all i have is row homes or duplexes with 2 units in one building. I manage and do most all my own maintenance with the exception of most of the major stuff. I ...

At times they also limit debt levels.  

He probably is well aware of your experience level.

I do understand that the interest rate is typically lower for a 15 year mortgage, but if you can afford the note on the 15 year mortgage, you will actually pay the debt off faster by financing it on a 30 year amortization schedule because each payment would be an overpayment due to the lower monthly payment requirement for a 30 year mortgage.  

We do a lot of work in flood zones and from what I've heard regarding "stilts"(we call them pilings) is you're looking at 20-30k extra over a traditional slab with a crawl space....Most of our footings are within a couple feet of sea level so we've never needed pilings but if you're indeed that deep you defintiely can't pour a footing on top of muck.....The other concern is flood insurance - the lower your first floor elevation the higher the flood insurance - I'd imagine if your first floor is under 10' the insurance would be astronomical.....your best bet is to talk to an engineer, get a survey, and go from there.

That level of skill will likely come with more experience and tepetition.

Need to look at the depreciation, the tenant has a faster schedule than an owner, look there as to who can write off expenses quicker and negotiate from there. 

s are flow-through-tax-entities, so they both have the same tax implications on the federal level.