This is a brokerage activity.The timing between note transactions can take a note holder from "investing" to brokering, by churning accounts, buying and selling as they might as a day trader in stocks.

I learned not to be greedy and think about those 2.5% or 3% or even the 5% I could make or fellow agent could make because the chances are that I could get that deal is much more bigger that way.

"There's no rule of thumb that says: Buy three houses, you'll get capital gains; buy five and you're a dealer-trader.

I don't have a whole lot of insight into the market there, but in general, anywhere a Wegmans or Trader Joes or the like pops up, I tend to think of it as a positive sign for an area.

Ask the seller to refinance the property with a one time assumption agreement with the lender - assume the loan - seller gets his cash and you get a nothing down deal.Hard money is OK (but dangerous and expensive) and so is creative financing - you'll know what is best, every deal is different - now go play the real estate game and have fund while learning and profiting - always make full disclosures and don't be greedy ---!

Are their any exchanges where you can trade real estate derivatives to capture price variations outside the stock market? 

It's the Buffett adage, "Be fearful when everyone is greedy and be greedy when everyone is fearful."

Appreciation that is not accessed is of negative value.Don't be greedy take advantage of what you have and move on otherwise appreciation will continue and you will never decide to benefit from it. 

If he wants the $1500 I would make him a firm and final offer $5K below what I would actually be willing to pay.He is being lazy and greedy, make him pay so he will have to pay. 

However, this is obviously a grey area and it's why the IRS has special tax rules for day traders of stock and real estate professionals.