The lack of an employer match makes a huge difference and makes it a very personal decision and forcing a person to be honest with themselves.  

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but that one lacks any foundation.

With your opening statements you are hoping to supplement your agents lack of knowledge - which is fine if you have the experience to do this and you are only using your agent to write offers etc. 

Hello All:I am brand new to REI, so I am lacking greatly in experience across the board.

Foreclosure auctions haven't been a great overall source of deals recently because of the lack of properties going to sale, but a great place to buy because you know if you got the deal or not without the MLS frenzy. 

The issue regarding harmony, or the seeming (and hopefully temporary) lack thereof, came about when we began to define our criteria for our first deal.

@Brandon Hall would be able to answer questions about tax efficiency, but I would think lack of tax event would be more efficient.

Apple?

I don't like the lack of control and the entire thing strikes me as a legalized gambling operation where the house has their thumb on the wheel.  

You will have everything you will need for a quick decision, which will include an appraisal, if not appraisal, a BPO, and if not a BPO real comps that are apples to apples, contractors estimates, pictures, videos, and escrow instructions.Regards,Bernie Germani