So as usual with the state agencies that oversee much of the real estate industry in Maryland we get a very vague answer.

Probably the starting point is finding your credit score on one of the 3 credit agencies... this is free and you can do it once each year.  

Here in the midwest options fees range from 5-8,000$ and you can have them get with a credit repair agency and a leader and monitor the status of their approval so they can buy within the 12 or 24 months.

You can go several ways, but I would recommend CM as Agency or CM at Risk.

Can't hurt to call your insurance agency.

RE = hedge to inflation, debt becomes cheaper with older dollars.Cash = hedge to deflation, we can acquire more assets.Gold, which I love, because I'm an Austrian believer, really doesn't hold as much necessity now.The good news is, if you ever hear the mainstream media throwing the "D" word around, holy smokes things are really bad, or it's a smoke screen for something else.The even better news is that the American economic nightmare is deflation, because that would force them to actually default, or take up "Helicopter Ben" Bernanke on his last ditch effort of saving a Keynesian economy.

My advice would be to find something--either single family or multi--that exhibits good value, get the experience of the purchase process under your belt, then assess how much you are willing to take on.As far as your dilemma with your agent, technically your agency relationship is with the agent's broker.  

Owned a collection agency for decades and saw the CFPB launch a full attack against debt collectors, payday lenders and other businesses where they disapprove of the morality of the industry.

If my offer is accepted, obviously I need to have the funds ready, get an inspection scheduled, line up homeowners insurance, and establish escrow with a title agency.  

My question is this, are there agencies that allow licensed people to work under them if they aren't selling homes in the traditional sense (i.e. other clients)?