Transaction histories can be exported to excel at tax time.

That is not enough time to recoup the transaction costs if you buy something that you end up selling in less than 5 years.

You could always get transactional funding on something like a cash wholesale and quickly refinance on a home you intend to keep if you wanted to go the BRRRR route as well.

If I do multiple transactions with one buyer, I will negotiate further, but this depends on how much work the buyer is doing, or willing to do in the process.If the listing agent/seller is offering 3.0%, agreed to in advance by those parties, great! 

Sale price: $1,100,000 https://www.flickr.com/photos/14088277@N03/albums/72157602145464785 This address has sold at least twice since this transaction.

You can’t turn one deal into multiple transactions like they claim.

You being upfront and honest with your seller is certainly a step in the right direction but that does not make the transaction legal, you still needed to negotiate that contract, market that property and receive a fee for it, all of which requires a license.

@Blaine Cox unfortunately, there are so many unknowns in this transaction that its going to be hard to point you in the right direction. 

You should definitely determine between the two of you if this is ultimately a business or personal transaction because if he's insistent on getting his money back now that sounds to me like he is looking at it as a business transaction and if you are looking at it as a personal transaction that could be a considerable  obstacle for your relationship which may be the main thing to consider.

Sort of splitting the savings with the buyer.This would be my first rental property purchase.What services does a realtor typically perform in a transaction that doesn't require selling?