Keep looking for something more established, more certainty, that can be obtained at a reasonable price.Good luck 

I am new to the real estate world and for my first deal I plan to obtain a owner occupied duplex and build my buy and hold portfolio from there. 

I have been assisting investors throughout my experience to obtain rental properties and flips. 

We also use word-of-mouth which has proven to be our most lucrative way of obtaining properties.

If not you can walk away.Here's a specific clause that I have used in a similar situation:------------------------------------------------Commercial Tenant/s Requirement: Buyer shall have thirty (30) days from acceptance ofthis Offer to Purchase to identify one or more qualified retail tenants for the subjectproperty or this offer shall, at Buyer’s option, be null and void, and all earnest moneyreturned to Buyer immediately.A Qualified Retail Tenant is defined as a prospective tenant who (1) has profitablyoperated a similar business to the one proposed for the retail space for at least the past 3years, (2) provides reasonable evidence that he or she can obtain or retain any necessarylicenses or permits for the proposed business, and (3) signs a Letter Of Intent to (i) rentthe ground floor retail space of the property for at least 3 yearsstarting in 2014, (ii) pay rent of at least $20 per square foot per year Triple Net in the firstyear with index-linked increases for the remaining term, and (iii) pay for any constructionor modifications required to operate the proposed business.Seller or Seller’s representative must be present during all showings to prospectivetenants

On my recent purchase, I obtained a loan for 4.8% fixed for 30 years.  

In a few days I am selling my BMW motorcycle and sold my Jeep Wrangler a few months ago to obtain extra capital for the purchase of three quad plexes.It was a tough decision but overall a worthwhile sacrifice to create long term wealth.

The duty of a listing agent is to obtain the highest market price for a seller, how can they do that if they are taking excess amounts of equity from a deal?

I am currently looking to obtain a job in an Estate Agency, like you just said, a real estate related industry.

Fix and flippers can take title and go to work, hire contractors, obtain permits and do the work any owner is allowed to do.