@linda, A lawyer who can sew... quite the combinations perhaps he could sew your mouth shut, and if that doesn’t work, he might possibly sue to get you some English tutoring.

In CA, opening your mouth can get you sued so might as well just shut up.If you have found the perfect place, did you sweeten the pot to seal the deal right there?

Just be reasonably cautious about keeping your mouth and nose covered until done and the place is ventilated.

So until you PONY UP and offer what RENATUS does, CLAM UP or put your MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS and you teach me and after I learn I will pay you back.Any takers or are you all talk with no action.

Don't put a phone number on it.If anyone wants to check their rental history and get a reference, refer them to the seller and keep your mouth closed. 

If you have a refi and take the proceeds and shoove it up your "watch your mouth!"

Many investor/lenders are really after the whole deal, allowing you to overload your mouth, get you in a contract that is difficult to accomplish, then when the work is done simply push you out of the way.

The degree to which this conflict of interest motivates behavior I think is what you are alluding to.I think what you are saying, and I don't want to put words in your mouth, is that you do not believe agents act on those conflicts of interest. 

Prove to the brokers that you are willing to pay reasonable prices and have the wherewithal to actually take down a 100-300 unit complex, and you will see real deals.To answer your question directly though, if you really want them to be chasing down potential deals for you, I would put your money where your mouth is and pay them to do so, whether or not you close on a deal.  

Every other word out of your mouth was the F word.