Experience or Reputation && Why?

This is called hypothecation if you're trying to search online.

My reputation and proven successes did help.

They have made it clear to me that they refer to me because they are comfortable/confident that I will take good care of the client which reflects better back on them, keeping their reputation strong and earning them real estate referrals from the client if they end up happy with the whole experience (which is much more valuable to them than a few hundred bucks from me). 

The debt amount for this mortgage is about $20-30 k from what I can find online I am willing to pay if needed but when I called the bank they  wont release any payoff amount if not the past owner. 

For example, if you check Airbnb's (the company) online reviews whether BBB or the app store, you'll see it's low and that's because a bunch of guests who don't get refunds or hosts who are mad are leaving reviews.Maybe a better question: how to vet a title company?

I live in a very rural area in the northeast and most of the markets within an hour of me are primarily class C and D neighborhoods with reputations for drug and crime problems (as well as my own hometown unfortunately) so I will probably look to long-distance investing as I get started.

Actually, most of the tools online are awful at it. 

I am wanting to buy a property in a online auction with the clerk of courts in my area.

That is how I got started.I also encourage you to listen to the Thanks for Visiting podcast because they are in your city.I hired an online interior designer and gave a per-square-foot budget.