I've seen a number of these flipper shows where everything about the actual mechanisms of Real Estate transactions is only hinted at.

Most people with internet access, common sense, and some mechanical competency can tackle the minor repairs you might expect to run into.

A mechanical permit has to be pulled by a licensed contractor so therefore can add to your overall expense. 

, credit cards (shows poor money management), auto loans (if they won't pay their car bill, knowing that the car can be easily repossessed, then I'm less confident they'll pay their rent), etc.As for contacting the prior landlord when it's an apartment complex, you'll need to contact the rental office. 

We refinanced our 8-plex loans when the rates were low and immediately were paying $1,000 less per month.We maintain our credit scores at about 800, but our loan officers tell us anything above 740 and we will still get the best rates.We have never had difficulty in obtaining a loan, partly because my husband and I are both gainfully employed in professional careers, plus we have a lot of equity in the real estate we own and our loans are "performing", never missing a payment (all set up on auto pay) and not over leveraged.If we find a great deal, we are open to mortgaging a property to get the cash out of it to make a new purchase.

But even without doing a listing agreement you can be upfront that you have no intention of actually buying the house and the purchase contract is just a mechanism to avoid being an unlicensed broker.  

It is a large auto store name, it is not a franchisee.

In fact, I said that;I pretty much said "Good morning/afternoon, my name is Bill G and I'm the Met agent here, I'm not selling anything but just meeting people in the neighborhood and letting them know that Met now has homeowner's and auto insurances for this area." 

I'm a mechanical engineer by trade but ive always been interested in real estate.

Are you looking for how to set up the finance side or how to set up the mechanics of it?