Most flat fee listings are willing to work with a buyer's agent and pay the buyer's agent commission.

Now, I’m wondering—should I be paying a contractor to walk properties with me before I make an offer, or should I first get the property under contract and then get bids?

The 70% rule helps investors determine the maximum price they should pay for a property.

It may sound nice to pay a 6% management fee but the extra fees can add up to be more than the other company that charges 10% with no additional fees.

See the illustration below (click to enlarge).Goals“If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.”

My preference is to receive the full commission, then pay out the referral fee.

Typically this means they will take longer to close, may not have all the information for the companies they work with, and most hard money brokers get their money by taking an existing product and adding extra points to pay their fee.What is your investor success rate?

., Purchase Price: $475,000 ($197.9/sq. ft.).Estimated Market Value: $402,000 ($168/sq. ft.).Financing Terms: 2% interest rate, with a 9-year balloon.Unit B Income: $2,049/month (Section 8 tenant through November 2025).Unit A Income Potential: Similar rent or higher; Section 8 cap for the area is $3,234/month.Monthly Loan Payment (P+I): $1,386.Cash Flow Breakdown (if both units are rented at $2,049/month):Gross Rent: $4,098/month.Vacancy (10%): $410/month.Operating Expenses (37.3%): $1,376/month.Net Cash Flow: $943/month.Key QuestionsWould you be comfortable paying an 18% premium for financing at 2%, especially in a market where current mortgage rates are closer to 7%?

They are paying me rent directly.  

Ultimately, it comes down to underwriting and the ability for the property, and you, to afford to pay the monthly expense of the loan.