I have spent sooo much in savings to pay down my bills in an attempt to build my credit with no luck that I feel like I'm stuck in a dark money sucking hole!

He discovered I held a number of highly leveraged properties with mtg rates @ 18% (after he saw the excessive amount of paid overtime some of us were collecting).He had lost a lot of money on REI so was understandably biased, but coincidentally he also ran one of the worst departments we had the misfortune to revamp & attempt to make fiscally viable. 

In my case, getting money to invest through basic personal financial management was far easier than finding an incredible deal or using a creative financing solution.My alternative was to attempt to find a screaming deal from a motivated seller.  

CarrieThanks for commenting.It's been quite a ride and I've learned a ton in the process about how to organize a meetup as well as getting the chance to talk to really experienced investors.Definitely a win-win overall.Wish you luck with all your future endeavors as well.  

Attempting to acquire while listed might be construed as contractual interference.

My first attempt to rent out my condo using an agent didn't   work out well , the property was not rented and my contract with agent is over.I can continue to try to rent through an agent or do it myself.

Your fatalistic attitude is predictable because by saying that nothing will change if investors step up to the plate, you then attempt to relieve those investors, and possibly yourself, of the moral charge of stepping up to the plate.  

Agent might be attempting to get you to raise your offer before he submits it.

Knowledge is power and some of the smartest people I have have come from my real estate endeavors.  

Don't attempt to keep the security deposit.