I'd say the most important qualities of an agent are:Be a good communicator ConscientiousAttentive (active listener)ProactiveConnector of people (contractors, lenders, inspectors, etc).Different clients demand different skillsets, but I think buyers & sellers will be well-served if their agent has the above qualities.

I have been listening to the Bigger Pockets money podcast for over a year and have been interested in real estate investing for a while. 

I have listened to many of the podcasts and a lot of the investors say that they get no`s from banks about their loan.

Listen to @Michael Jones and let him help you.

I have listened to hundreds of BiggerPockets RealEstate podcasts, read tons of articles on BP, and watched lots of youtube videos about real estate from BP and others.

I'm currently doing all the reading I can and listening to the BP podcasts and getting my financial ducks in a row.So question, I've owned my house for 5 years and have been making double and sometimes triple mortgage payments thinking that was a smart thing to do with my money.

I am not a lawyer or retirement advisor so by all means please listen to others with those credentials on BP first.

Nor do I listen to their podcasts about how to "find deals"...I also do that myself. 

OR like Jim says do nothing and listen to nobody your Dad set you up for life feel blessed  

Listen to the way they talk, the lingo, the KPI's, anything and everything you can absorb.