Aggregating data from public information is typically better to buy or rent from commercial providers unless you want customized data fields, highly targeted leads, compiled lists or response lists (prospects test have responded to others' offers). 

When I asked what is was for, he said that it pays for the office help to handle all the paperwork so the agent can focus on buyers and being in the field.

HiI am getting started in REI and working on building up my contact list of other investors, attorneys, handymen and other friends.A little about meI have been studying real estate basics for the last 6 years, helped few of my own close friends ( my own home) buy and sell houses just to learn the trade but not for commissionWith my education and bit of experience, just started venturing in this new field but puruing very actively and aggressively.I realized having a good team along side in my journey will truly be helpful and mutually beneficial.Please reach out with your interests in REI and how we will be able to help each other.I live in the nw suburbs in Chicago area and currently working on a townhouse deal.

I am pretty sure they have in their employ someone with a degree in new home marketing or packaging or some such  field and they have the selection of interior finishes for spec homes down to a science.  

One of the pros in this field will hopefully chime in with that list.

I recommend you contact an attorney that specializes in this field and have them answer your question.

Right now, I'm absorbing any information I can pertaining to the field of real estate investing, including podcasts, blogs, books, and articles. 

However, although the fix n flippers like to call themselves real estate investors, they are actually in the real estate business, they are not investing in real estate.Real estate seems to be the one field where a large number of people are willing to believe that with just superficial knowledge, the purchase of a guru's mentorship program, the reading of a couple of books by authors who were NEVER successful in anything except selling books about how successful they were, that they will be able to achieve success as a real estate investor.  

Both my husband and I have been unable to find full-time work or even work in our fields. 

It seems like if it's a sellers market, low supply and high demand, the ball is really in their field (or sand box).