This is excellent news!

I have a solid background in Excel and VBA which helped me analyze my first house hack and I've continued to keep reading books and listening to podcasts. 

I already have a relationship and can discuss where your offer came from and provide them alternatives.

The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve Berges is an excellent read

My go to right now is $130/hour, but they have excellent service (their low guy is $90). 

Since then, there have been many other factors contributing to a deteriorating relationship between myself and my landlords.

You are doing business with family and if your brother has no money and high credit card bills along with getting married ( assuming his bridge to be's family is taking care of the wedding cost ), this sounds like a relationship killer waiting to happen.

The barrier to entry for a first time home buyer owner occupant is incredibly low and efficient with the number of low down payment loan options and excellent interest rates and terms.

I have previously worked directly with local bank in my last deal, but I'm not against the idea of using brokers. there's a lot of discussion already about pros and cons of brokers vs direct bank relationship, but I wonder what's your take on it considering you worked with brokers (I have not yet on the commercial side)?

The books in the BP store are excellent - Brandon's book on Low and No Money Down, Anson's book on Finding and Funding Great Deals, and J.