OK thanks Steve, that is the best explanation I've seen here of why it's more advantageous to using the listing agent.The only downside to this that I can see is that I won't be able to get the codes and enter the properties on my own anymore.

@Arteshia Darby,You've got a lot of good replies here.Yes, there is a lot of potential downside to having a current private lender get involved with a new investor, especially without some education on investing and using private money.

Down side is you have to hold it for 6 months.

That said, I'm not sure what the downside is to keeping them unless you have hundreds of properties.

But, the downside is that the increase in price is speculative and may not continue for the long term.

On the down side, you are earning interest, but about 1/3 of what you could earn by selling outright and investing in rental property.

The only downside is that it will seem like Josh and Brandon are living in your house ; )With your coming profession as a Pharmacist, you should be able to make a good income.

The only down side is sometimes the lending is different to LLCs verses having in individual name but I haven't found that to be much of a problem. 

This was pretty interesting to me:http://www.businessinsider.com/the-san-francisco-a...The guy was in rent control for 34 years and when he was finally evicted he was not prepared for real world rent and didn't have a...

Not nearly enough of a discount to make up for the downside risk.