The agreement isn't required and I usually don't make people I am working with sign one unless I start investing a substantial amount of time working for them showing them tons of houses.

An agent has been soliciting her sphere of influence which includes contacts from her former place of employment including employees and clients.

Austin will not be in danger of any great economic turn down and I'd expect demand of your subject area will be influenced, not sure how far away you.A visit to your local planning office is worthwhile.

I think that will influence your decision on the next step.

Sellers, Banks and Listing Realtors would contract with offer #2, where the buyer can clearly afford the purchase, backing it up with a substantial Good Faith Deposit which shows they’re serious buyers.

Just from the responses you see so far you should get the picture: " One Size Does Not Fit All" The return on investment from Low Priced but High Risk Property usually requires a substantially greater commitment of Time and Resources and Hence only a greater ROI would justify the involvement !

Department Of Justice has created a complete website (see below) dedicated to educating Consumers about the substantial saving available to them in now 40 states through Realtors who offer Consumers Realtor Rebate Savings. http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/real_estate/rebates.html To see how popular this savings is becoming, Google search: REALTOR REBATES to find thousands of very Professional and Kowlegdable Realors willing to offer Consumers this savings.

@Dick Green After a few early years of not collecting enough security deposit up front, we realized to mitigate our risk we would not be shy about asking for substantial security deposits.

One of the people that influenced me when I got started said, "What most people think of as a once in a lifetime deal comes along about once week when you marketing is consistant".A good rule to stick with is the 70% rule. find the property determine the after repaired value (ARV) take 30% off of that, estimate the repairs reduce your price again for the repairs and then leave at least 3,000 for surprises and there will almost always be some.

For years banks have relentlessly worked through their Washington influence and lobbyists to create this 'tilted playing field' allowing their SRP/ Overage profit to be hidden from the consumers.