I'd love to share insight of the Birmingham market and see where most people are investing in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. 

Many many many people.

So if you see a foreclosure, it's not a typical thing, and the people involved are not typical. 

Fewer people can afford to buy when prices are high, increasing demand for rentals and driving up rents.

There's a post right above mine from a lender... there's always a lender offering $$$ even when people can't afford it. 

Gene unlike most people who try to do what he does, does what he does.

It sounds like you're on a fantastic path to becoming very successful in real estate investing.I'm an Orlando local too, and I'd be happy to introduce you to some great people in the area.

As long as it meets "minimum" size standards it can look like a broom closet and be considered a bedroom... ridiculous, but it's out there, and in a tight market people will pay for it... 

I don’t have a problem paying a couple grand to remove some of the just figure it out stage of learning and utilizing expertise of people that already do it. 

I know people who do this and I do not believe there are issues with it, but speak to an attorney and they should probably notify the company if they are an employee of that company that they are doing this.