Most importantly, I have two nephews (12 & 15yo) back home that I want to be around more to influence and help raise as their own parents are essentially unaccountable.

There are a ton of people who do not think being an agent requires any skill and advise their family members that way and no matter what you do or say for some people what their family says will trump what you say. if uncle Charlie had a bad experience with an agent that was a friend and uncle Charlie has influence over your friend that could be a reason you don't land them as a client.

I am also reading everything I can get my hands on such as Rich Dad Poor Dad, How to Win Friends and Influence People as well as several titles from Bigger Pockets in an effort to learn as much as possible about business and real estate.

If ever there was a time to recommend a book, I'd say you should read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

I may be acting naïve in saying that I believe I have found a like-minded individual who understands my goals and is set out to be a positive influence.

Heck, I've seen plenty of properties in my market sell for tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars above the appraised price, so appraisals often don't even influence sale prices, let alone rents.

Now, I have a sphere of influence that I can't ignore (medical professionals) and would like to hang my license with a broker.

If my seller takes contract to an attorney to review attorney will say yeah its a standard TX purchase agreement.With regard to having seller write something on a legal pad...I actually just got done reading a book called the psychology of influence that describes why this works.

That means "arms length sales" with no influences.

It’s he principle of commitment in the world of influence/psychology3..