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My personal credit is nearing 800, and our businesses have established relationships with several banks' commercial departments where all of the financial responsibilities have been met over time on our part, but I didn't know if ultimately, an entity could have an independent credit rating.I have an account at a local lumber yard that reports to Dunn and Bradstreet, but upon further research, Dunn and Bradstreet didn't appear to hold much weight from the brief digging that I did.  

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Your plan of investing in 2-4 unit buildings in SD is a great strategy and I applaud you for your "numbers first" perspective (very few of the newer investors I come across figure out this mentality as quickly as you have appeared to).In regard to your question about the best way for someone without a RE license to access the MLS in SD; I think Sandicor's 'Client Connect' site will be your best option.

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I buy for location, and there are a few things that usually make me walk away - late last year I looked at something I was considering buying but there appeared to be a massive sinkhole developing at the driveway that was taking the slab with it - and usually those things are serious foundation problems, unsolvable/difficult to solve water issues, failing roof support system, no siding or severely damaged siding.

Lacking multi family experience but considering the owner is motivated to sell and from the information provided this appeared to a very solid lead.  

But be careful of the taxes eroding any possible cashflow. a 60k property in Coram, NY will run you 5600 in taxes, so this appears to be a challenge even in suffolk.

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It appears that for many, many, many years the owners, boards and management had treated the building and units more as a Condominium in that each owner was responsible for the repairs to their own units, whether they lived there or rented (any damage to the inside of the unit was the sole responsibility of the unit owner).2 years ago, the board at that time brought on a new management company.