A REALTOR will want a percentage of the sales price, even though they haven't put in all the work.You should also do some research before speaking with the renters and striking a deal.

This is important because experience has taught me Partners often have a "Honeymoon" stage that can quickly fade where each partner wants to strike out on his/her own and when the property is sold, each partner directs the Title Company to cut individual checks to individual names.

Strike when overcorrection occurs. 

Down cycles don't last as long, so pile your cash and be ready to strike when the good buying opportunities are here again!

Regarding the NII comments earlier...there is actually a case in the Supreme Court that MAY strike down the NII as unconstitutional.   

An agent with a great lender, contractor and inspector in their networks, not your friend or family member starting out.I am 'selling' a cute little house in a hot market on a lease option.  3 couples wanted it and were well-qualified, but had new agents they were friends with, bringing no value to the table  When it came down to needing to up the strike price to pay their agent $7000, they all had to admit the new agents weren't worth the cost and lost the house. 

If I can help them before I even strike my first deal or building my business,  I think that is pretty amazing.  

There are a lot of strikes against you at present.

Strike up a relationship and see if you can learn from them but also work with them at the same time.

Strike me as trustworthy3.