It might also reduce your speed and flexibility.  

Then it hit me....Since my earned income is unencumbered, why not max my 401k and then take loans from myself.

HELOC = 5%, Cash is earning = 1% (but can save you from trouble costing 10%, e.g), refi cash out primary, $5k to close, ...Then consider the risk of each.  

We earn our money making loans and getting paid back.

We were very very careful to make sure this wouldn't happen because of all the interest in the property and it's common for people to pull these shenanigans to get a property under contract and accepted for a ridiculous price and then later back out and reduce the offer for the "appraised value" so we wrote a special clause into our counter proposal.On top of all this the roofer that I had hired took my $1k and ran off with the material money and also hired and scammed another roofing company that tore off the existing roof.

The price has been reduced twice now.  

And heck, I WANT to lend my $$ to people to earn a higher rate of return, but saving $$ is certainly my first choice for the world..

Borrowing is not earning and buying does not guarantee performance!  

I am a wholesaler in search of partners, cash buyers, and people wanting to further their knowledge of RE and earn $$$ as well.

If "word" get's out that you reduce your fees, your colleague's could fins out and call you a "discount broker."