Don't promote properties at meetups because it's perceived as a desperate method.

No way I would get rid of that property unless I was desperate.

I am at the point of being a borrower but not in a desperate way.

Two years ago I was desperate for real estate wisdom.  

He said there are some builders out there who were once good builders but are now desperate. 

However, if you're not willing to pay, then what you're likely to get is an agent that is desperate for a client, doesn't have a lot of experience, and is obviously unable to negotiate for their own commission, so how do you expect them to negotiate on your behalf during the sale with those same inadequate negotiating skills?

Investors are desperate to find "deals" and buying at auction feels like a deal, even if it's not.I've been to auctions where people pay market price for a home that is clearly a fixer-upper, meaning they will be under water after renovation, even if they don't consider the cost of their own labor.

This would force them to seek out discount agents desperate for work, they would get poor representation, and everyone will suffer because of it.

Most buyer's can't afford to pay the differnce and selling agents desperate for a deal don't seem to mind.  

High vacancy, expensive turnovers, never ending capex and tenants that are desperate- those aren't passive investmentments and they sure as heck aren't "sure things."