Investing Realtor Basics

[Anthoni S Bereziuk Jr]

I have a couple of questions regarding the how-to's of investing if you're a real estate agent.  First, what is the basic format used for an agent to make an offer  on a listed property?  Do I just make a verbal offer and then follow that up with a written offer if it looks like it might go somewhere?  Should I just email a state-approved contract to make it easier for the listing agent?  Am I, as a real estate agent, able to fill out the agreement if I want to forfeit my commission and act SOLELY as a principle buyer?  Instead of writing the contract myself, is there a smoother way to do that so that I'm making it easy on the listing agent, but still forfeiting my commission?

Second, I've heard mixed answers on the whether or not, when dealing with individual motivated sellers and not a listed property, a realtor HAS to use a state-approved contract.  Can anyone tell me whether that's an actual rule, or just a preference?

All help is much appreciated.