Goal is to have 8-10 when I retire, that I can manage and maintain in addition to my retirement.

After searching, locating and researching a piece of retirement property, we are considering an offer to the seller's agent (who knows very little about what he is selling).As the buyer's agent is typically compensated by the seller, is it normal to ask for a reduction similar to the 3% that the buyer would pay to the non-existent agent?  

I would research Rent To Retirement on here as that is who I went through to do this.  

HI Jeff, Long term goals is to have properties after I retire.

I am having so much fun in my "why", still building, that I might as well be 20 again, because I see retirement a LONG way off.Every day I am up @ 6/7am, to bed @ 11:30pm, and there still isn't enough time in the day to get done everything I want.

I have 3 years left until I am eligible to retire, and then I plan on being a full time real estate agent and investor.

You should definitely look at the near Eastside / by Irvington / Little Flower for better prices but stable rents.

I'm retired now from Contracting but I've heard this is going on from new neighbors.

The media will do stories and they cherry pick that one situation where a stable person fell on a bad situation.

Colleague of mine who owns a rental company, has about 2,000 rental properties in Chgo, and earlier this year, he explained to me how he got SCREWED with the moratorium, and wanted to now diversify with our company. 20% rentals to us (over time), because we have more stable and consistent income (not to mention skin in the game), vs getting screwed by his tenants.