They put alot of the meetings online as well with information that comes from them.

Tax shelter schemes, partnerships with foreign partners and accounts, partnerships with hundreds of members, returns with blatant mistakes, entities in questionable businesses, like gambling, drugs, online video sales, escort services.

Not sure if that is still legal or even translates in today's world of everything online but seemed like a good screening tool to me at the time. 

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

Documenting your journey online or engaging on LinkedIn can also help expand your network.

Start small, be patient, and stay connected with local meetups and online investor communities for support. 

Attend seminars, join online forums, and read up on the latest market trends to stay informed.Remember, real estate investing is not without its challenges.

What is the best way to go about finding these property listings online before they go to the auctions?

You can also check their reviews online at Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

Definitely join your local chapter of REIA (real estate investors association) or join one of the ones that are fully online (Columbus and Cincinnati).