Hey @Wesley Jensen, You do not need your own real estate agent to represent you although I would highly suggest it. if you don't get your own agent, the sellers agent will represent both you and the seller which is called dual agency. it's very common, but the agent will not be able to help you as much as if you had your own agent working solely for you!

In Colorado, dual agency is allowed.

Search Olde Capital, Wheelbarrow Profits, Joe Fairless, Rod Khlief, the real estate guys, Brad Sumrok.If the purchase price is more than about $1.2 million Freddie and Fannie Agency loans are much better than commercial bank loans. 

I am still working full time, so I do not have the time to pick up an agent's job.I am looking for an agency with higher commission cut, no requirements for the Realtor Association Membership and/or MLS membership, and no requirement on number of calls, etc.  

I think that this is an area that the real estate agency in Oregon really needs to clear up.  

@Curran D Bishop - quick question - did you sign a buyer agency agreement with any of your agents?

Your lawyer may also want you to contact your insurance agency. 

Yes, you're right there is online RE courses that I found today after calling a couple local agencies.

It turns out that a credit collections agency, unbeknownst to me, had placed a seriously delinquent collection on my credit accounts in the last month and it tanked my scores below the 680 threshold for FHA Plus that is used by M&T (the bank).

In Ga. the EPD has jurisdiction over State waters- I'd look into the equivalent agency in Oregon as a starting point.