It was $100 a year and I was not required to join the MLS.To earn a commission you have to be a member of the MLS unless the agent agrees in writing to pay you a compensation before the showing. 

I stopped paying the 1%+ and my principal finally started to decrease, significantly.My suggestion is that you ask brokers for recommendations that are in the area where you are purchasing your property and keep calling banks and save thousands of dollars you can use to invest for your next purchase.Two things:  Your broker wasn't getting rich on a 1% commission and the 1% you paid to your broker didn't keep your principal from decreasing; it was probably the cash out he got you (and at a higher LTV than the bank would lend you I might add).Banks and brokers each have a place in the lending arena.Stephanie 

If you sell, you pay closing costs, commissions, taxes (including depreciation recapture), etc.

Setting aside the whole "cash flow" thing for a second... if you add up your down payment, closing costs, and any rent ready and commission costs... it seems like you are probably around $80-85K out of pocket total. 

Not only is it the right thing to do to help them get their legal ducks in a row about knowing SPECIFICALLY what the seller did wrong, ie did not disclose and can prove it was done for the sole purpose of deception to make the sale "smoother" but it can help you look good and have you learn how to avoid in the future (as you say "tighten up your due diligence")It sucks when agents "help" 1st time or largely inexperienced buyers long enough to make the sale and get their commission but then peace out on the client when something like this happens.It It seems like you are attempting to do the right thing which is admirable bc at the end of the day, the court system is the closest thing to a "business police" that ppl can get. 

If I am the agent I get my commission.

Biggest challenge was the two end buildings were added to the historical registry so I had to obtain historical commission approvals.

Then my firm cuts me my share in a commission check that I may get 4 days after that. 

But what is really cool is you can get between 1000-10000 dollars in commissions for signing people up who want to learn about real estate.

However, I shudder at the popular suggestion to sell some of your investments for tax purposes, often coming from commission-based brokers and financial advisors.