This is true, but UDFI comes into play on many transactions.  

I am located on the Naperville / Aurora border which is roughly 35 miles straight west outside of Chicago.

They seemed pretty open to creative ideas, including cross-collateralization to allow me to purchase my next property with relatively little out of pocket.Have you considered a blanket loan to wrap all your properties under one loan?

You never know, we might even cross paths!

my question(s) are about the general actual transaction of the deal...say for finding a motivated seller, making an offer and buying the property.1) would you guys recommend i have an agent on board to do these types of deals? 

Any agreement that the seller and I would make outside of the sales transaction would not be considered when doing the appraisal...the appraiser is looking at sales comps and income. 

In Las Vegas, for a short time they were the way to go, but the market out here has shifted and short sales in most cases are no better than a bank owned and the bank owned is a much quicker straight forward transaction so the need to pursue what is often a messy more time consuming transaction isnt necessary.  

If you are flipping did you look into a portfolio loan or a transaction loan.  

Not representing anyone in the transaction but yourself.

I'm asking these questions to determine whether you would qualify for a 1031 Exchange transaction.