In your situation, an agent may spend some time sending you info, listings and such since you’re still out of country, but if they’re any good they will require one before actually spending time scheduling and showing properties.

I know everyone is friends now, but do yourself a favor and spend a few bucks on a good lawyer.

We would spend weekends snaking neighborhoods and looking for open houses (because agents would try to double end the listing and they'd have open houses before listing the property on the MLS).

I am going to spending a week out in AZ at months end to drive by current listings to get a feel for the area.

If you have mulitple members or a complicated structure, I'd spend the money to have an attorney draft a specific agreement.

I am planning on spending the next 5 months educating myself.

Why am I spending thousands every month on marketing and other operating costs for my deals when I could just pay $890/month and have deals fed to me!

I can’t see you prevailing on This property though.....if you want to spend the time money to “prove a point” or “change the system”, carry on.A similar dismay on my part.....I just went to bid opening where a state agency accepted a bid that was turned in late on a $12M project, caused by confusion on the bidders part.  

Just go in with realistic expectations, don't expect to be able to spend an extra $1,000 a month because now there is $1,600 of rent coming in.

I owe 230 on a 315 house and I’ve been spending extra cash to pay down the house (4% interest rate).