About 2 days later I get a call asking if I would be willing to pay about $2K more as the seller didn't want to pay it and do some private deal he had with the realtor. 

You can try doing owner financing or bringing in a private lender.

If the property has some good equity and I would like to take over, how would go about in that without having to get hard money, private money and/or home loan?

They do have a section for private lenders that I will explore.

Please Private message or email me so we can discuses this privately.

Most private deals will require 20% of the purchase price and fund 80% of the rehab so let's call your loan amount $84,000 x 12%/12 = $840 monthly.

There is education available through the Associations and private training from guru's like Mike Ferry.You must weigh whether you want to work hard then give your commissions away, or.... self-educate.As a contractor, it's all about how much you personally bring home, so look at commission percentages and monthly/annual fees from Brokerages before you place your license.

We bought the house three years ago because it was closer to our kids' private school, but it coincidentally had a rental suite.  

there are semi private lenders that will do these generally they want to see 40 to 50% down  10 points and 8 to 9% interest amort over 30

(I have a private investor willing to finance me on 100% of the purchase price)  Very exciting.