On the other hand, self-education through books, podcasts, and free resources is cost-effective but requires discipline and a clear plan.

I have a house that’s a long term rental upstairs and a medium term downstairs.

AND just because you have experience and a “good deal” doesn’t mean you will be successful trying to syndicate the deal.The first criteria is does the sponsor have the general knowledge and experience in real estate, and the specific knowledge and experience in the property type/location to give the project the best shot at success?  

I am in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and I am a new landlord, having purchased my first rental property about two and a half years ago.

Seriously, all I can tell you is this:Showing you screenshots, and a ton of leads from my website is a direct indication of the effectiveness of what I am telling you. 

The guarantee of getting paid and a high hourly rate would be what would entice them to use the hourly rate structure over a commission structure.  

For example we helped a client acquire a $1.5M oceanfront home that is pushing $180-200K per year and a $875k home (with no water feature) generating $125k gross revenue annually

And a debt note is only part of the cost of owning a property; not paying taxes will get a property foreclosed; not paying insurance can present huge exposure to damages.

A few small touches, like high-quality linens and a welcome guide, can make a big difference. 

If the agent is their own broker and a sole practitioner then you need someone else to decipher the agency relationships that may or may not exist.