Anyway thanks again guys, any tips I can take towards building long and mutually beneficial relationships with a contractor is worth it's weight in Gold.

Maybe I'm being cynical, but it seems like a pot a gold at the other end of the rainbow type of a chase.

Marc Cesar I just read some postings from @Eric Hettena 's link ( http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/87122-how-to-work-with-re-agents-for-leads ) and there is a lot of good info on that thread pertaining to this post.Just think of what value you give them with your business model and what value they provide you - and make sure the are compensated for itThe gold is the MLS acess I am assuming you want Active leads as well as expireds.If you acquire acess to MLS you can scour though and analyze deals and systemize your offers.

But, it also seems like a perfect time to pyramid cash flow properties in the previously mentioned niche market.So….do I put 100k into gold and 100K into REI?

That is an unlikely event.The major risk in holding commodities, like liquor or gold, is with the stroke of a pen any sitting President could do what Roosevelt did and essentially put that commodity (gold in FDRs case) under the arbitrary price control of the federal government.If your real concern is a total collapse of the dollar, which I think has a small chance but huge risk, then your only sure play is offshore.

A banking system and no federal problems makes this the gold boom for rents.  

The amount of information and experienced members offering advice makes this website a gold mine!

A true professional real estate agent is worth his(her) weight in gold, where a shoddy real estate agent can cost the buyer a lot of time and money.

I would say that anything less than silver level is not worth it, a few of the tiles on the home page seem redundant unless i am missing something. i don't see the value in the pro, the gold is the best deal i think. also once you are doing one state you might as well get another two i think for the $10.The concept is applying technical analysis techniques to the real estate markets across the USA. 

Enjoyed Tom's story too, I agree that what you can negotiate in your best interest will usually serve you well, but to say there are no rules or nothing is cast in concrete..... let's keep in mind, at least to some degree, that golden rule, the first one.The second golden rule is he who has the gold makes the rules.Then you have the issues of acting legally, ethically and from a moral standpoint as I guarantee you that your success will be anchored in more than your ability to talk a one legged man out of his crutch. :)