My goals as a member include:Invest into my first multi-family by next February 2016 Get my real estate licenseGet the right advice and make the right local connections I don’t absolutely need a purchase to happen by then, but I’m fairly certain I can make one happen by then.

You also don't understand business ethics with respect to valuing your services or fair dealing that is required with real property.If someone has a $25,000 Ford and you can buy it for $12,500, it's much more of an acceptable deal if that's what the seller will take.

Interest rate and equity ownership can all be negotiated, however does anyone have a guideline to follow that is fair?  

So I am fairly new to Real Estate Investing just got started about 2 months ago have my LLC and team in place and growing.

Because an appreciation play is akin to gambling.

I would if you have not already walk into the planning department in your fair city and ask at the counter whats allowed.

Well, in fairness, it wasn't really a guru and the seminar was free.

@Ariel Goldenberg,Just my opinion ...Unless the asking price was significantly below fair market value (FMV), you were doomed from the outset.

@Daniel Gonzalez's approach also isn't crazy.You can mix them:If you find a deal on redfin/mls/whatever, you're using that agent for doing normal agent things and they earned their check.If you find it on your own, or if another agent brings you that deal and sells it to you, that means they closed the sale and earned that check.Your primary go-to person needs to be exactly one agent at a time to be fair.

I know appreciation can be a gamble, as compared to cash flow.