I look every day for off market houses to flip.

For your seller its an effective sales price of ask - 2% using your assumed $500,000 thats $490,000, a real good offer depending on your market.  

I’m active in the market and happy to share insights on neighborhoods, financing options, or connect you with resources.

There is around 500k equity in the property. 150k-200k would get the property fully rented at top dollar with desirable tenants. 100k would get it to where I can rent all the units back out at fair reasonable market rents.

Welcome Joshua, I work the Atlanta market.  

Has anyone had good experience with Furnished Finder in your market or if in Houston even better?

I sold all my SFR rentals in that markets as collecting rent and keeping houses in good shape was just too tough.. ( thats jackson proper)  as I said madison and Ridgeland will be fine..

There's no real hard and fast way or only 1 way or doing your first 2 points. your subject line suggests you're not looking to go to a large shop like a JLL or a CBRE which honestly I don't blame you those offices are usually pretty bloated.As far as monthly costs, if you are going to individually get a costar or other such license you are probably looking at $500-$1000 a month pretty easy in overhead once you have office dues, mls dues, marketing, etc. 

Excited to hear more about your projects and experiences.What markets are you focusing on for your flips and buy-and-holds?

I would recommend you focus on a couple neighborhoods that you would like to live in; and familiarize yourself with that market.