seller financing & the realtor dynamic

[Kyle Mack]

There's a duplex that I'm interested that looks like a candidate for seller financing. My realtor showed me the house. I stuck around and started talking to the tenants: They spoke of a older guy possibly looking to retire and thus, begin to unload his portfolio, and the tenants gave me the owner's contact info. 

I would like to negotiate with the seller directly, possibly for seller financing, but my realtor told me not to negotiate with the seller outside of the offer. 

Does it sound like the realtor is telling me not to negotiate outside the offer because he doesn't want to get cut out of the commission for the work of showing me the duplex? Has anyone else been in a similar situation with a realtor?

I guess sometimes it seems that agents just want a contract signed (and thus get paid) when I want to work in my best interest :) and get creative...