As an agent, do you work with investors and as a beginner would you recommend an agent be of primary importance or a person that becomes more helpful after becoming more established?

I thought about marketing online, but a quick search pulled up several established home buyers in my area.

Local knowledge can be vital, and vaguely similarly described comps can be very misleading when trying to establish what a particular property is REALLY worth.How much capital expenditure will be soon required in order to keep it habitable?

From an outsider's perspective I'd say that you should keep your 9-5 for a while longer while you get established as an agent.

An area that's already established or one that is on the rise? 

Absolutely, there are a bunch of real estate plays that don't require much money or good credit:Become a lead finder ("bird dog") for a well-established investor or wholesaler in your area.

Hello @Scott Schaeffer in BP.I'm not a legal or tax advisor, however based on my experience, the savvy investors usually establish an LLC partnership with a 2% member that is also an LLC taxed as a C-corp.

No simple answer but establish your criteria price, profit, location/s, time per project, level of rehab, property type, etc.

Well, I just know a lot of people in my area and I know an actual brick and mortar presence would probably help me out in establishing myself quicker.

Establish an "unauthorized occupant" clause, with a hefty fee for violating this, in your lease/rental agreement.