So the next question is how much time, energy and money do you want to spend in order to recoup what is a relatively small amount of money.Take your lumps and become a better "investor" for it.  

It's not worth the stress and energy.  

I think the question itself emerges from a belief that one either has to be an investor (and do creative investing) OR be an agent and focus all of their time and energy on traditional agent tasks.I see the license as just one of several tools we employ to monetize leads (which in our area are extremely expensive right now).My wife and I own a brokerage, but all of our 32 agents across Texas are first and foremost creative real estate investors, marketing to distressed sellers, wholesaling, flipping, taking properties down Sub2, etc.But when you do that kind of marketing to distressed sellers, sometimes you run across situations where the best solution for the seller (and best chance to monetize that lead) is to just list it.... either a traditional listing or a short sale listing (no, you don't have to call banks either)... or even an owner-finance listing.I think there a lot of myths about being an agent... some of which are more true if you are caught up in a more traditional brokerage where they stress getting a high volume of traditional closings.Common myths are:-- I'll have to show buyers around:  Not if you don't want to!

I’m a recent graduate of the New Jersey Institute of Technology with my B.S in Mechanical Engineering and I plan on continuing my education as a full-time graduate student pursuing a M.S. in Power and Energy Systems.

That way you know how to demonstrate a good value to them.I've moved a bunch of times and have looked for properties everywhere i vacation, Sometimes i get better service frrom a new agent, who has more time and energy and is 'hungry'.  

Would love to save you time and energy!!

We were quite lucky because we went home just in time and our property didn't get burned.

Also little know secret you can add up3k or 6k on to your VA loan for energy efficient improvements.

Some blocks look bad (burned out buildings, loud tenants, etc.), but you can turn the corner and you'll have beautiful, well-maintained brownstones.

Have you considered updating the lights, changing out equipment, and using intelligent energy management?