Yes there is a great old book written by I don't know who about you being the average of your five closest friends.

I would start by attending your closest local real estate investment club meeting.

Closest thing I found to automating it is hiring an virtual assistant to work the list.

Not only is it the right thing to do to help them get their legal ducks in a row about knowing SPECIFICALLY what the seller did wrong, ie did not disclose and can prove it was done for the sole purpose of deception to make the sale "smoother" but it can help you look good and have you learn how to avoid in the future (as you say "tighten up your due diligence")It sucks when agents "help" 1st time or largely inexperienced buyers long enough to make the sale and get their commission but then peace out on the client when something like this happens.It It seems like you are attempting to do the right thing which is admirable bc at the end of the day, the court system is the closest thing to a "business police" that ppl can get. 

I am currently 21 years old and was recently hired with my dream job in Sarasota County (I saw that Sarasota wasn’t an option so I picked the closest.)

It seems most of the investors in my area are out of town/state and the closest REIA is well over an hour from me.

@Leilani Leszkay here's a list of areas in CA that allow non-owner occupied STRs and are tourist destinations:YosemiteMontereySonoma CountyPalm SpringsFullerton (closest city to Disneyland with favorable regs)Santa BarbaraJoshua TreeMalibuBig Bear LakeNewport Beach

@John Keane A few comments:-If you aren't able to raise the funds from your closest friends and family it is unrealistic to believe you will be able to raise the money from anyone more distant to you.

PS: I guess the best agent will be the closest to the actual price once you do your research!

Whatever is closest to "Legal".