If RE market was bad, and your basis in the property was higher than the FMV than there could be gain, but highly unlike in this market. 

The problem is that you have to find a house where someone is in a bad situation so that you can buy the house at a below market price.

When things get bad, people trade down.  

In principle, if that's where you'd like to live for the foreseeable future, then sure, paying off a mortgage and keeping it maintained for about the same price as you'd be paying in rent anyway, is not too bad an idea.

I thought I didn’t need it but as I started dealing with “agents and agencies”that had bad habits which cost me good deals.

So it is not bad, but I just wonder is it worth it? 

If you are planning on selling yourself you will always field a few bad potential leads to find quaified buyers.

Wouldn't be a bad thing to do this full time but taking one step at a time.

In fact even when you hear yes the terms that usually follow are so bad you are going to say no!

You don't want to be buying in a market that you have no clue what the good and bad areas are.