To be honest, if you have one flip under your belt and it went well, you'll have a pretty easy time finding funding with a smaller lender.

Basically your tool belt should be expanded.

Once you have production under your belt (and a good amount of it) you can renegotiate this split or leave for a company like Re/Max that doesn't have a split (just a monthly "desk fee"). 

I think if you are looking at long term buy and hold then Atlanta / the south in general is growing while Dayton/ the rust belt in general are losing population to holding steady at best.

I've got a few rentals and a few flips and a couple other things under my belt so far. 

ERGO you have a whole turn key industry selling 1000 houses or better a month as SFR all over the mid west and rust belt as those are the ONLY areas of the US were you can buy detached SFR's with 25% down that cash flow or cash flow positive.. 

@Isiah Ferguson your post explains why many on this site are into duplexes and quads... where if you can get the first one under your belt as a personal residence and as an investment, people perceive they will get a jump start on their track record.

Once you have that under your belt, you could consider more of a business like car washes or self storage.

Don't waste the agent's time.Once you have a deal under your belt, expect a lot more loyalty from your agent.  

Ask "How do I find someone who has only 2 or 3 houses under his belt".