Yes you can use commission as sourced funds for down payment on a conventional loan.However some lenders have internal overlays that don't allow it.

Calling a FSBO wasn't the original question - it was "text blasting".I cited some very solid sources above that are worth reading. 

PS is revolutionary because of how it has simplified access to all of the various data points investors need to make a decision and because of this its extremely popular.You do not want to be using a popular lead source to increase deals because everyones chasing the same deals.And nothing will change with there data because there business model forces them to have to buy and license the data they get which means waiting for the county/databroker to send it to them which guarantees anyone using PS data will be behind the counties, only getting a fraction of the leads and getting those late leads the same time as everyone else.How do you get access to the leads first.

I had to have an awkward conversation with my favorite realtor when their broker suggested everyone had to pay a $700 “document fee” on every sale.

Instead of piecing together information from random online sources, you get a cohesive learning experience.4.

Akron is a very blue city and are not very landlord friendly - source of income protections, etc... 

For example,  providing a heating source for your tenant is your responsibility as the landlord. 

Is there a reliable source to get this information from other than agents? 

Without the high leverage you reduce the top source of return in CA RE which is achieve via the appreciation on a high leverage property.  

Unless you have some sort of subject matter expertise or access to an unfair advantage (cheap labor, ways to source off market deals, etc.), index funds are likely to provide an equal or better return with a MUCH lower hassle factor and more liquidity.