.#4 - Go to the Education tab above and scour every link, and when you think your head's gonna explode, click the Community tab and start perusing the forums.

My interest stems from various posts and podcasts where the person says that they have their license (although they do not always say if they are employed under a broker or not) and they easily are able to scour the MLS for comps or to actually search for and bid on tens or hundreds of properties with ease.

Already out scouring the southwest side of MSP with the plan to purchase in January.

I've scoured the MLS several times a week for the last several weeks, and I couldn't find one deal within 10% of asking price that I'd jump on for a rehab.  

I know my business well, and I've been successful for the past 3+ years scouring deals and working hard to make a business. 

With regard to your first bullet point, I'm a realtor here in SA and constantly scouring the MLS for deals for myself and clients and I hardly find deals better then 80%.

I have scoured the site looking for cautionary tales or advice on what risks to avoid and how, and there is precious little.

I've been listening to podcasts non stop, flipping through forums, and scouring the mls day after day.   

@Victor Chico just "nerding out" online over the last few years and scouring foreclosure websites (auction.com, Homepath, Homesteps, etc.), trying to find good deals in on the island.

Taylor I've been scouring Trulia/Zillow but I'd argue there isn't a deal to be had right now, based on my criteria, which is why I questioned my criteria.