Hi Kelly,
20 year real estate Broker in AZ here... imho you want to find an agent who has non MLS connections. They will know about deals that sell and don't go to the market, which is where you are most likely to pick up that better property spread. Also, look in the BAD areas of town. The "c" type areas can cash flow a lot better. Also, you will need cash, but that doesn't have to be actually your cash. Talk to a hard money lender (your agent with wholesale connections should have some recommendations for you). You can get 100% hard money or use the Heloc for down and then hard money, plus for rehab costs. Once you have a couple under your belt you should have the cash itself to reinvest, ideally and can avoid the Heloc or 100% deals. The hard money is a shorter term solution and you simply sell the property rather than refinance, unless it's something you want to keep long term. The same agent who has the off-market wholesale connections will also be awesome to list those properties with. Let them market those off-market-, so they are building their network of investors and wholesalers who send them business. It's a VERY small community at the end of the day, rest assured. Don't trust every agent just because... we are definitely NOT all created equally. Let me know what areas you will consider, as I'm getting some off-market properties nationwide myself.
