This limits their RE Investment options to RE that does not have huge negative cash flow.  

I'm in Steubenville, Ohio a small town with limited resources.

Base the amount of podcast I watched, I know it's very possible but with limited finance, it seems out of my reach.

In my state the standard contract used by realtors addresses this issue by allowing the agent to check a box specifically to limit the seller to keeping the EMD as opposed to going after "liquidated damages" like that.

It's a way for them to maintain control over their material and keep their audience intimate. 

Really your reply is the kind of thing that has made Bigger Pockets so valuable for people like me with more limited access to a broad range of more experienced professionals.

Next, your using limited visual range photos.

Ourcurrent approach involves identifying possible contact information for thelisted owners and calling multiple numbers, but this process is time-consumingand yields limited results.

Information including but not limited to: - Median Sale prices for different property types (SFR, MFR, Condo/HOA, etc.)- Average days on market- Absorption rate- Historical data on rents and sale prices in the area- Population growth- Main economic drivers (industries, individual companies, etc.)- Crime stats... if you know specific zip codes/submarkets that you'd like to target, the best data will come from local precincts. - and more..I'd recommend remaining active not only here on BiggerPockets, but in other valuable RE investment networks that you can find - i.e. local meetups (meetup.com, eventbrite, BP local events). 

The 1% rule does not consider the condition of the property and is very limited.