Welcome @Mark Budd, I am an investor with rentals in the Kern River Valley but I work in Bakersfield often.  

A few buddies of mine were musing about the prospect of hiring prostitutes to cause a divorce to get first leads on the property.

If you happen upon some deal and you decide you don't want it after all, like you found a better deal, and you can't buy them all....then flip the contract to your investor buddy, but doing this as a business.....get a license is my advice.Edited BTW, Folks  don't get something either.

Now I am going to recommend some FREE videos that my buddy @Dev Horn put up, and I am not profiting from this.http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/517/topics/108237-free-marketing-videos-from-we-buy-housesI would like all seasoned investors that have done many mailing campaigns to critique them.I give these a 2 thumbs up!

Instead they don't list it and take it to their buddy buyers for the full commission??

That is why I hate it.Most importantly and no offense to your buddy helping you out.NEVER "just" listen to anyone blindly to do DMM or anything this important really.Also chances are they are not in your market so its risky to have someone else help.This DMM is way too expensive.

find leak fix, grab some buddies dig into some youtube videos and you can do the whole thing yourself I bet.

@Marquis Harris Appreciate it buddy!