I'm biased and can provide reasons and data to show that using an agent will protect you, get you more money, less stress and so on.The reality is you can do it yourself, but tenants generally don't cooperate with showings and that causes lots of problems for buyer to access the unit to show, inspections, appraisals etc.

Ask the seller's agent to put their counter offer in writing.

Those are dramatic headlines and those who don't have a clue or stink at being an agent.

One deal I closed last year was right next to a planned shopping center.Realtor Pocket Listings: As a licensed agent myself, I’ve built relationships with other agents who sometimes share “pocket listings” or properties not yet on the MLS.

What are out of state investors doing in Cuyahoga County if they don't have a property manager? Where do you find a LOIC? Is property management the only way to make this work?

Purchase price: $271,000 this is the first property I bought, I put 0% down on this, it cashflows me about $350 a month. this property was a good investment, and I think I got lucky. my real estate agent found this for me as it wasn't being sold on market. truly a gem.

Brown, I obviously don't use other registered agents so @Nathan Gesner suggestion is pretty good. 

@Duncan Forbesit's unlikely that an agent or a broker are going to be able to help youyou likely need to buy something off market, that is distressed, with either hard money or cashyou need to connect with other investors, wholesalers, etc.one good way to do this is in-person, at meetupshope this helps

Most sellers will laugh when you ask them to reduce the price by 3% because you're not using a buyer's agent.....You can buy and sell your own  properties without a license anyway...  

Also, you can ask the agent to NOT put a sign on the property.