Question about how to find properties

[Sarah Ali]

In the webinar, step 1 is to find an investor friendly real estate agent.  However, I am also hearing that you can do things like contacting property owners via cold calling, skip tracing ,etc to find properties.  Could someone please explain how these two processes work? Do you do the contacting property owners yourself and then work with the investor friendly RE agent to actually purchase the property? Does the RE agent do the scouting and present the properties to you, and then help you purchase?  

I'm trying to get a better understanding of how "Step 1" really works, details and all.  I'd like to purchase a 2, 3, or 4-plex and live in one of the units and rent out the others as my best way to get into this crazy bay area market.  Thank you for your replies!