Grand Rapids, Michigan Top-Performing Real Estate Agents

[Jimmy Watson]

Hello BP,

I'm a beginning investor and waiting on my pre-qualification to come through from a lender (should find out on Sunday), and I'm working hard to build a really solid team that I can trust. A little background about myself is that I'm an out of state investor (living in California but looking to invest in Grand Rapid, MI), and I'm searching for small multi-family properties of 2-4 units that are less than 100K. I really want to find a stellar real estate agent to help me learn the market and find great deals (preferably before they even hit the MLS).

Please let me know if these are reasonable expectations (I have no idea what I should expect out of a real estate agent), but I would like an agent that meets the following criteria:

-Has worked with many, many investors.

-Has 10+ investment properties of their own (preferably buy & hold types of my same niche (multifamily).

-Has been in the business for 10+ years and is a top-performing agent in my target market (Grand Rapids, MI).

-Incredible reputation with local investors, with lots of work done through referrals... and a reputation for integrity, tenacity, and professionalism.  

-An agent that I could continually do business with for the long-term, and help me build my portfolio from 0 properties currently to who knows how many!

If these are unrealistic, please do tell me what a 'great' real estate agent's background would look like!  

One last thing... to all the fellow investors as well as real estate agents out here...

What are some of the key questions you would ask when screening a real estate agent to make sure they are someone you would desire to work with for the long-term?  

Thanks in advance for all the help BP!!!