Not to mention I'm also actively looking for deals (smaller apartment buildings, 5-24 units) where perhaps seller financing or a master lease option would be a possibility so I can get started without much of my own capital, but obviously these are difficult to find given my inexperience in finding off market deals.

But disclosure laws are complicated where you live, or you have a transaction that is complicated, having a low paid inexperience agent could be costly.

Then finding someone willing to lend 100% of your rehab and holding costs in second position - just not very likely and if they are willing, then you should not take the loan as you are playing with inexperience which is dangerous for both sides.That said, there are ways to fund 100% but it takes creativity, one heck of a good deal spread, and a borrower with, at minimum, some education in the arena along with some skill sets and serious savvy.

What you are experiencing is growing pains; I.e. you’re not totally comfortable with your inexperience and knowledge gap of the next level.I will tell you that most brokers do not have ‘off market’ deals, for residential they run MLS, for commercial Loopnet.

Like you i am also new to RE but you are ahead of me in experience since you have been wearing the landlord hat for a while.I would look here on BP and see if there is a local BP meetup.

I, of course, would do my best to make the offer very reasonable, while adding the contingencies.I'm also wondering if my relative inexperience in real estate has resulted in my expectations being a bit high for a listing agent's role in this.

But he'll be there 5-6 days a week working on it himself and brings in experience, tools, etc.

You might have a positive cash flow of at least $200 apiece as a minimum.As you grow in experience and the quantity of units should make it affordable to hire a property management company and take several things "off your back" when you own a minimum of about 30 units in an apartment complex.   

My Lakewood property was a huge mistake on the acquisition side thanks to my inexperience and a snake-oil-salesman-RE-agent pushing for a commission, but because the property was in such bad shape I was able to still come out with $40k in equity from acquisition. 

@Alina Trigub thanks for the advice on syndicates, I believe my use of the term shows my inexperience.