Hello,Very new to the forum and currently renting in Ridgewood, NJ.  Near the end of the year I'll be in a position to buy with a conservative budget of 175k and more of a stretch at 225k.  Looking for something in Hu...

If he was your tenant for 3 years, he has made you tons of money I'm betting.

So, if an agent wants to work with you, they'll have to work 10 times harder to get the same amount of money (and, yes, you could say the higher the price the lower the commission structure, but at this price point it wouldn't matter as much).So, it doesn't make any financial sense for someone to work on a $30,000 deal.Your best bet is to find someone new who is learning the business, because new agents will take what they can get, or get your own real estate license and then you'll never have to worry about it again.

Welcome to BiggerPockets :)From my experience in Nashua, your best bet would probably be to buy and live in a four family... its much more difficult to turn a profit when owner-occupying a two-family or three-family there. 

I would be willing to bet a small sum of money there are more incidents of traditional workplace violence than real estate agents being subject to violent acts showing/viewing houses.

Real estate associations (like the REALTOR association) I think are a great place to start and helped to grow my past PM business.Referrals for doing a great job for current owners your managing for.Also online / web presence - this was the #1 way new owners found and signed up with us.

Your best bet would be to  Brady's private money from the individuals you know to buy the property ONLY if you have experience in managing this type of asset.  

It can be frustrating to do several hundred (not to mention time consuming), but I bet everyone opens an envelope that has a hand written address!

Most of them will be revealed with a simple web search.

You are correct on your assumption that ugly 4plexes are your best bet to create equity, the question is, how fast can you turn the 3 doors around and rent it.