Looking at other renovation articles online also show that updates usually only give dollar for dollar, and some not even that.

I would read the below article to help you understand per IRS rule RE professional but again speak to your CPA and or attorney for guidance.https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2017/mar/navigating-real-estate-professional-rules.htSo you invest $100k, and let's just say for argument sake it is a 6% cash on cash return so you will make $6k in Year 1 and go up from there.

A brokerage carries some risk if they have agents working with clients as one would in a buyer's agency relationship when they are technically still transaction brokers.Another reason Derek's agent probably wants him to sign an exclusive is because she's a professional, does this full time as her career, has bills to pay/a family to feed and doesn't want to waste her valuable time answering lots of questions, giving valuable advice, analyzing properties, sharing her valuable knowledge, sharing her network of contacts, building what she believes is a mutually-beneficial relationship, and showing/writing offers on multiple properties only to have Derek buy a place with his cousin Ralph without paying her a penny.I never had a problem signing an exclusive when working with agents to buy properties before I got licensed, and now as an agent I of course prefer having one early on in a relationship, not only because CO frowns upon not having one legally, and my board of Realtors and brokerage also require me to have one, but also because I like to know I'm actually working with someone.

Have a look at BP's blog where new articles are published every day: https://www.biggerpockets.com/blog 4.

I did find quite a few articles stating that certifications don’t seem to matter.

I've decided to pass on this property at this time, but living and working in New England, I see LOTS of older homes with multiple layers of paint, probably lead, so this is all good advice that will be valuable for me.  

I got mine through State Farm since I already had car/life/personal article policies through them.

We are DIY'ers and we both work m-f 9-5 jobs, so putting in sweat equity isn't a deterrence for us while we save and learn valuable skills.

There was an article in the local paper yesterday that it’s the 4th hottest market.

Today it seems like the most valuable skill in real estate is people that can find deals and that's basically wholesalers whole business.