The right Realtor (Connecticut)

[Mark Campo]

All,

I currently have a realtor searching for multi-family properties as an investment in Connecticut. I have several concerns:

1. I currently have been pre-approved by a conventional lender (up to 500k), and I also have a hard money lender. My realtor insists that I need a pre-approval letter provided for all offers I submit. The conventional lender provided me with a pre-approval letter, but the hard money lender stated he would only provide me with a pre-approval letter on a house by house basis, which means it would be unreasonable for him to give me one for each of the 20 offers I plan on submitting. He will provide the funds AFTER I have an accepted offer, and he stated that he would have them to me quickly (week or so). My realtor is also insisting that I have to use the conventional lender if I use that in my initial offer. My plan is to use the conventional pre-approval letter for my offers. In the case where I need considerable funds for rehab (which is the case for 90% of them), I am going to actually have the hard money lender provide the funds. My realtor is stating I can't do this, and I am stating I can. Thoughts?

2. My realtor has requested I sign a contract with him allowing him to exclusively represent me. He is also requesting a 2.5% fee that will be paid for by seller, but I am to make up the difference if the seller doesn't agree. Thoughts on this?

Anyway, should I start looking for a new realtor? I picked him because he has owned many investment properties (at least 20 according to him). He is older and seems stuck in his ways. I know I am tough to deal with because I am very head strong and like things done my way, and he is head strong also. I was actually thinking about finding some young motivated realtor that I can "bully" around a little (just kidding for you politically correct wackos concerned about bullying) and have things done my way - I would be willing to pay dearly for that extra motivation.

Any feedback would be welcomed!