As I work on that the main thing I'm stuck on is whether to get licensed as an agent to get some income going, or just hustle hard as a wholesaler until I have a good deal flow. 

Several niches interest me, such as buy-and-hold rental properties to generate passive income or possibly wholesale acquisitions to utilize my sales background.I do not have a Texas real estate license, and want to learn some in's and out's of the industry before deciding whether or not I will need one as a future real estate investor.  

Disclaimer: While I’m an attorney licensed to practice in PA, I’m not your attorney.

The details will fall into place with the proper team.

As long as your CPA takes the proper deductions, it shouldn't hurt you too much, though.

If you don't first purchase the property, and you receive any amount over the mortgage for selling the property, you have acted as an agent for the seller, which you need to have a real estate broker license for. 

Wrote the house up for 28 violations, and it was not licensed. 

To collect a referral fee, you need to be a licensed real estate agent

One reason is my age of 61, about 30 years in construction management, about 30 years I had real estate broker license in Texas, and I got a college graduation degree in Business (that emphasized real estate) , and being born and raised in Dallas, Texas.I'm completely un-knowledgable and where to be in Minnesota and is beyond my knowledge.   

Also do I need a business license to be able to claim business expenses?