Although, establishing relationships with smaller, regional banks is crucial down the line, the experience you'll gain thru the conventional route should be quite enough at the point to "prove" your worthiness.

I have invested in different parts of the city (Belair-Edison/21213, Morrell Park/21230, Barclay/21218, Upton/21217) and have not yet nailed down my #1 target area, and am seeing the benefits of investing in 100k+ neighborhoods.

The nuggets of info you gain and so incredibly valuable.

I guess it’s some sort of employee benefit.

Also interested in any suggestions that, I and others could benefit from, regarding floor plan adjustments that others have done that you have found profitable/marketable and cost effective as well as total disaster stories on what not to do.

What are the benefits of working with real estate agent?

To really measure the cost/benefit of permitting you would have to first talk to a contractor to find out what the costs are. 

If he expects a month worth as a fee then it is $1105 more than what he would normally get.  7.5% would be $1705.50 and he would have gained almost $1300 from my ignorance... hahaWhere is this 15% come from? 

What are the benefits to this type of system vs. one with traditional internet? 

The two years of occupancy I was referring to was so that I could have the option to sell the property without paying capital gains taxes which I believe is two years.