Well all I can say is Real Estate and those that sell it are a lower form of life that practice in this manner then from the responses I read that say it isn't unethical - Yes it may be common practice but I do not believe it is ethical or even honest - Honesty isn't just lying but it is a manner of representing a property and what you want for it - If your intention is to delay an answer in order to get more bidders that is not honest - if I listed a car for sale for $XX and someone offered me cash at that value I would feel obligated to sell it.

Once you have enough expertise to locate and control a deal, enough capital to help fund a deal, and/or enough experience to manage the execution of a deal, you will have the credibility to find experienced partners.

While I'm still a noob in the REI space, I want to know what are best practices to build rapport with a broker(s) to start walking properties and seeing deals before thy hit loop net or the MLS.

I also am aware that a 30 year mortgage would not likely be practical given his age, so I was thinking of suggesting adding points that I would pay him in cash upfront as a concession for allowing me to have early payoff. 

@Curt Smith thanks for your expertise!

My father in-law had a medical practice which he retired from and currently owns the property.

Anyone with expertise or recommendations for someone knowledgeable about that area is truly appreciated :)

Please post your comments and area of expertise so we can better understand your perspective on this topic.

Just bad practice.  

With Memphis Invest, I am relying on their expertise to reduce that risk, and accept the lower RTV based on what I've heard from other folks' experience with them.Thanks for that alternate method of pulling up name... for some reason, I can't pull in your name with a direct @ reference.