You need to find one that doesn't charge insane fees and is reputable.  

If you're doing property/investment analyses beforehand (and you should be), factor in that you will be paying rent (and possibly some or all of the utilities) to the LLC, and that the LLC should be paying you for managing the property.

Also ask your agent if there are any factors on the house (age, not updated, location, etc.) that is affecting the rates. 

RUBS is a Ration Utility billing system that allocates 100% of the property's utility bill to the residents based on an occupant factor, square footage or a combination of both, less a predetermined percentage of a common area allowance.To put it in easy words, you still pay, but are able to bill back to tenants. 

Also the type of loan is a big determining factor, i.e.

Quick closings, good customer service, low fees, interest only payments and desktop appraisals in many cases.

Especially if you are only in CA short-term because you may see very little income tax liability when you factor in depreciation.

Household incomesGDP per capitaCrime rateProperty taxesNumber of owners vs rentersPrice to rent ratiosvacancy ratesHousing prices.I am wondering if this about covers what I should be looking for in a particular area, or if there are any important factors that I should be considering.

I paid approximately $7k in fees for a $65k loan. 

this is tricky, it tends to be a case by broker-case basis, and only a handful of brokers control the bank-owned..yikes......i forgot if the agent can rep. the bank and you, there in NC, if you make offer..Just thinking out-loud and opinion, not telling you what to do, dont know your plan (hold, flip, or your funding):  ...get over there, with a property preservation buddy, assess the repair and upgrades, (unless its already pretty perfect or you feel the agent can give you some accurate idea)...ask agent what he/she can sell for in good condition, confirm.. then factor arv, repairs needed, make offer with 10 day due diiigence professional inspection......are you offering an almost full retail-market priced forclosure anyway, then are you going to hold it for cash flow?