An investor friendly agent can do all sorts of helpful things, like setting you up with a search for properties or connecting you with folks who have recently done deals like the ones you want to do. 6) Consider analyzing a deal or two in your local market, just for practice, with a free use of our Rental Property Calculator (or other calculators).

Is that a widespread thing, and if so what sort of terms can we get?

For lead generation, you can select the target audience, set your desired features for properties to go after, and then filter by various useful criteria.  

I have no Real Estate credentials or portfolio of any sort.

However, some sort of business entity to protect yourself would be a good idea in my opinion. - Investment RE in Nashville TN

I'm just lucky my guys called me before they threw the bucket and the bundle away.I have no expertise in this sort of thing and don't know how I should invest this unexpected windfall. 

Additionally, getting the insurance sorted was very difficult since he had a lender placed policy.

Instead of worrying about that sort of thing I prefer to focus on how I can use real estate to EARN that sum.

If you do a scope most of the time you end up doing an auger cleaning to remove tree roots or some sort of build up. 

You can network with all sorts of local investors that may be doing what you want to do or attend focus group meetings to specialize in niches like multi family, flipping, landlording and more.