Most often when agents get in trouble with creative financing it's a matter of not disclosing interests.When you do come up with a plan, you may want to run it past your broker to make sure you cover all your bases.

I got an email from a broker inTexas for a property in North Western part of Houston.

There is room for expansion and significant cost cutting based on the expenses the broker sent me. 

Long story short, I was able to convince my original installer that I deserved a new coil and free installation because this was obviously a manufacturer's error (Lennox lost the suit) and I as a customer should not have to bear the cost of their mistake.

Most of the new builds are going in on tiny lots in packed-in neighborhoods.If you can find a decent size lot (my idea of decent of .4 - .7) that is reasonably priced, and remotely close to anything, and would accommodate a custom home, custom homes are not cheap right now - they really never have been "cheap".

The rules were a bit different then and I was able to get a broker's license.

Then start reaching to brokers, property managers, agents and etc in the area to 1) find deals and 2) build your team. 

The broker I got the loan from has suggested that I create a second llc and sell the home to myself for $185,000, then use the proceeds to get all of my cash back out to use for future deals.

How much of a difference does a broker make for a conventional loan in the sense of decreasing interest rate and costs?

I am not a Lawyer but I was a real estate broker for about 30 years in Texas, so I know a little bit about what I am saying.