I didn’t know anyone in Alabama, so I called a few agents I found online and ended up picking one from BiggerPockets.

Tax benefits should be considered but not be the sole factor.The 'main benefit' from a tax perspective should be to generate a high return from your real estate investments and not to pay taxes on the return that you get.If you are able to reduce your taxable income, that should be icing on the cake.

I found an auction person, and I see listings online.

We certainly have found some deals that would reduce our living expenses compared to renting.

Quote from @Zach Howard: Quote from @Jonathan Greene: If you are looking at properties in the US only on Zillow, and not seeing them in person (I know you are in Hong Kong), this is just an effort in futility because you can't underwrite single-family or small multifamily deals only online.

It would be pretty simple to find a mortgage loan calculator online; input the current loan balance; and modify the terms as needed.

Yes, there's a lot of information online, but nothing replaces and EXPERIENCED honorable agent.A seller whose listing expired with a different agent/firm is now my client; the other agent was from a town 45 minutes away from the flip property....the listing expired. 

The forms are online, and it costs $100 per filing. 

But damned if I can find anything online about landlords using it!

I am a 24 year old who's employed in the CAF and looking to getting into real estate, more specifically BRRRR.After looking online for quite some time I've noticed how high Canadian real estate is and I wonder if it is even worth getting into.