Credit Bureaus, Utility data, Cell Carrier Data and USPS... mostly.

@Anthony Frascone @Ishmael Carter I would agree with Filipe and add that I have been adding units to my portfolio that are closer to the new Fuel Cell Project being developed in New Britain (Corner of Myrtle and Curtis Street). 

So I kicked the habit - I stopped going to seminars and started to apply some of those ideas that were preached by speakers who were experts at extracting fees from me.I started to attend real estate auctions, studying the process - watching others make a lot of money - I decided to get a credit line - increase my credit card limits and started looking for properties (cheap- ugly buildings) in the neighborhood where real estate auctions were taking place - my primary goal at this time was to learn the market in the area where I wanted to control real estate - I would look at 50-60 houses (but made no offers - when agents would try to qualify me I just said "I have a small inheritance and will not need financing) - I kept a journal of the price per square foot,  comparing properties, and all comments made by sellers and agents (this helped me to find the seller dominate selling motive),  that was helpful - but I soon discovered that I was just looking for real estate in the conventional way  - I needed to do something else - so I started to look for owners of real estate who had problems (I applied Power Prospecting formulas) and at the same time studying creative real estate techniques from the old masters in the industry - became a member of the Washington Real Estate Exchange, hosted a real estate investor club and started to give mini creative financing seminars  while networking with those I wanted to emulate. 

Specifically, I'd like to hear how you deal with memorized transactions or journal entries, since in Appfolio it is quite a process.

If the credit is low because of them not paying everyday bills like utility bills, car payments, cell phone bills then we will pass on them because they just don't pay any kind of bill on time or at all which isn't a good sign.If the credit is low only because of a foreclosure/bankruptcy, medical bills, or student loans AND they make well above the minimum income requirement w/ no criminal or eviction history we may explore accepting them with 2 months security. 

How I like to view things is from the different levels of financial independence:- cash to cover spartan level expenses  like some have mentioned or just bare sustenance  (food, shelter, medical insurance)- cash flow to cover all basic bills (prior plus utilities, cell bills, others)- cash flow to all basis lifestyle and min reserve tucked away as well each month (min reserve, subsequent levels can bank more reserves)- cash flow to cover all basic, additional reserves and growth of future lifestyle increases- cash flow to cover additional lifestyle, reserves, and additional margin to grow other areas of life style, hobbies, and investments well (self funding deals, self fund rehabs, and other activities)At the last level and subsequent higher levels from here and on you can self fund from cash flow alone and "job," not is never needed again but depending on your personal preferences for lifestyle and risk you may work forever to stay busy or may quit the job at steps 2-3.I enjoy what I do as a lender so perhaps I just lower my production down to 2-4 loans a month and just help my past clients and referral partners.

Hi Jeremy, Hope you see this cuz my cell is not tagging you :(When I moved here 2yrs ago, I assumed the same about how it "should be" a good place to invest but have learned so much since then (and since becoming licensed here) cuz it's a whole different beast than where we invest (near Pinehurst NC).

Just PM me to do so and I'll give out my cell # there (won't let me post it here).Lastly, I am interested in buying flooded properties myself and know a couple other investors that are as well.

Ideally, we'd love to get cell phone numbers.  

The councilman is hard to catch up with, but I have managed to talk to him on multiple occasions after reaching out to him numerous times at his home and on his cell.