House Hacking #2 REI Agent or PM?

[Joshua Hughes]

I recently bought my first house hack in Dec. of last year 2021. I am wanting to stay with this and look for my second one at the end of the year. The realtor that i had didn't do much when it comes to helping me figure out if it was a good investment and i found all of my inspectors myself. Found a better insurance guy as well. I've been following bigger pockets for at least two years now read and reread I think all of their books and countless hours of YouTube videos. My favorite being the House Hacking strategy by Craig Curelop. My question is that when it comes to the year in between of saving, analyzing deals and I'm already set up on the MLS. I have found duplexes that i can see in person without tenants. Do I even need a realtor? Bigger Pockets says to look for an investor friendly agent but none of them want to actually help unless I'm preapproved again. I'll admit I'm still very much new so having someone who knows what something will rent for, and certain maintenance advice might come in handy as well. Has everyone investing right now even needed a REI agent or did they just go with a PM to give them advice on properties. Once I was able to physically see properties It gave me so much more than just reading about doing it if that makes sense.

Besides letting me in the door of the properties they don't seem to provide much value. Maybe I'm looking at this wrong but if I wait until the last 90 days to shop and physically look for a duplex finding a "deal" will be too late. Seems the agents are just concerned about their personal check and not actually giving value. My first SFH that I closed on I'm renting by the room and didn't need any hand holding, no exaggeration.

To sum up I want to learn from the mistakes I made on the first deal and start earlier on my second deal to be able to close by the end of this year. What would be your advice? 

Should I use a PM & just a regular RE agent again or have you found real noticeable value in an 'Investor friendly RE agent"?

How did you handle your second House Hack & Is a year just too early?

Thank you all for any real advice and or comments!