I would do as much research on the home as possible in the county appraiser's web site to get an idea of how long ago it was sold for and if there was a mortgage recorded on it. 

If you're playing match-maker, do you need an agent to close still?

I find it interesting that I've not found any reports on the web of investigations, complaints of fraud from actual NRIA.

You can do a simple web search to find brokerage firms that will hang your license for a flat fee verse a % of every sale/purchase but you won't get much assistance from them and I am not sure exactly how "legal" all that is.Other things to consider, 1) there is a fee to have access to and be able to list on the MLS, 2) I think the state requires you to carry or it would be a very good idea to carry Errors and Omissions insurance commonly called E&O insurance 3) if you plan to tour properties, you will need to get those electronic keys that agents have and I am guessing there is an annual fee associated with that.Those are the big ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Bonus points for web presence. 

See below: I got this wording from the web after googling "Pennsylvania real estate license requirements".

I am a doctoral student with: [list]little debt (car loan and 35k in student loans), little assets (3k in an index fund, 7k in a target retirement fund/Roth IRA, 1k in individual stocks, 5k in cash), little income (just my student stipend of less than $20,000/year and another $2-3000 from web design and illustrating jobs on the side), and a little family (wife and two kids).

A good formula to use is =pmt(rate/12,Number of Payments,Loan Amount)This will quickly give you the monthly loan payment (principle & interest) based on any number of variables.I just did a quick Google search and found this website that has a web based calculator.http://www.vertex42.com/Calculators/loan-amortization-calculator.htmlI hope this helps.Michael

One problem is they don't last long from wind and sun.However, I am closing on a house that is in the college rental area, but is located on a dead-end dirt road with no traffic whatsoever.So I will be ordering customized 'For Rent' signs with my web site prominently featured.

*points to corner*Now lets git on that new fangled world wide web, and do us some searchin'!