DIY investing - what are best resources for comps and listings?

[Account Closed]

I want to ramp up my investing and I want to be as free of reliance on agents for finding properties and also for doing comps. What are the best resources for doing your own comps and for finding properties? I appreciate other's expertise but I really value independence and DIY. I value teams but I value being able to do as much on your own as possible, so that even if you delegate, it's because you're choosing to, not needing to. I own four properties but they were all traditionally financed. The three cash flow moderately and the fourth or I should say the first I house hack so it brings in cash. This I want to know

1. how to do comps and where's the best place to get the data as a non agent

2. Where's the best place to find listings as a non agent? Preforeclosures and non foreclosures. Is zillow or the mls any good? I don't have tons of time to market and don't feel like cold calling. I'm looking at my MNREIA assocation. Oh I should look at Craigslist! 

3. Also how would you evaluate counties? WOuld people invest in a property or not as a landlord based on the county? I was told to not invest in Hennepin (Minneapolis) or Ramsey (St Paul) because of regulation and oversight and fees (before all this covid and riot stuff) but Dakota county is good (Apple Valley area) but I see a house that looks interesting in Ramsey. I think I just gotta do it. At what point would it be worth getting your real estate license and how big of a time and money investment is that? 

Yeah the theme of this all is I just want to DIY as much as I can without waiting on others. Even if I use them I want to speak their language and have their understanding.