Sounds promising from what you've posted.

The "fake it till you make it" strategy is fine for your own psychology, but not when your are talking to someone about yourself.  

There are even extensive, expensive training programs, some online and some in person, that promise to educate you on every detail of the process.

Unless the bank has reviewed the property, due diligence materials, your financials, and has given a loan commitment with a rate lock in writing you have SQUAT.They can promise you the moon and get half way into the deal when you have sunk costs  and re-trade you.

That is not the banks fault but a seller disclosure issue on a key item that affects financing.Some lenders way over promise and under deliver and it's bad business.

The Estopple is intended to verify:terms of the leaseproperty owned by the sellerany oral agreements or promises made by the sellerYou do not have to respond to any issues raised in the Estopple, so put them on the back burner and precede as you desire.

So they preach loudly about credit inquiries.Nope, it's not the car lates, maxed credit cards, or bk... it's the cell phone company person that promised it would be a 'soft pull,' that's why Jack has a crummy FICO.

I doubt an agent would be too happy with me "tire kicking" that many properties and getting nothing in return or just a promise of a future commission...So it seems like a catch 22 since I do need help and I do need a discount but an agent will be more willing to give me (a good) one as long as I don't ask much of him... hmmm.Based on this, any discount would be better than none just don't expect a huge one it seems.

I found a few so far and this one seems the most promising. 

They haven’t been given an application much less been promised anything.