We also feel into real estate through my first job out of my graduate program working form a commerical/apartment company as the owners executive assistant and buying/renovating a foreclosure that we turend into a rental. 

Bought an REO (townhouse) for $65,139 (cash) put almost 28k (cash) in and just locked into a contract for 129k with 0 buyers assist.  

If you go to work for a commercial firm they will generally take 50% of your money but you will get a secretary and research assistant etc.

The Realtor would help to negotiate lease terms, option fee, & hopefully stick around to assist with the sale afterward once the "tenant buyer" exercises the option.  

Reach your hand out and guide that same person assisting them along the way and then they will appreciate it.

Then I started to work for him as his assistant.

It is safe to say about 5-6% for closing costs as a buyer.For selling I generally assume 6% for the realtor fee, 2% for transfer tax, 1-2% for concessions (seller assist, warranty).

We dont have experience with them, but feel that there are more experience lenders out there that would provide you with better programs and investor assistance.

If the pictures are confusing, we will still know what we were willing to pay.I have an assistant that does most of the analysis these days and we write offers from there, I go take a look at only the properties when we get a counter offer that looks promising, or if we can offer list or better. 

I talk all about our strategy, success and how to self manage from afar on my website located in my signature.Pm me if I can be of any assistance.