It is not being unkind, it is business. 

@Scott Trench you likely already know this but Jay Papasan recommended your book on Jake & Gino's podcast (at the 45 minute mark)...a recommendation from an international best selling author...that's remarkable. 

This forum is not for posting insulting and rude remarks publicly about people.  

Also, thanks for the positive remarks about my "Newbie Question" series.

Can you add the field "Remarks" or "Description" and enter your desired keyword as a contains query?

You've really put together a remarkable site and forum.

I have been here quite a while and have seen many new members chased or scared away from overly condescending and or attacking remarks from posters.

To echo what others were saying, only licensed real estate agents/brokers can usually access MLS (but varies by state, I assume), and in our private remarks, it often tells us what type of listing it is (REO/Short Sale, etc).

Would this be another snide remark to respond to?

Though not zero risk, private lending is a remarkably easy and time efficient business for us that I highly recommend looking into, if you're in that position.Alternately, we are next looking at completely passive investments such as some real estate syndications with proven operators.