Thanks so much, I really appreciate all that you guys have put into this web page.

Is there anywhere on the web that is a great resource to find foreclosures or pre foreclosures before they hit auction?

I've been a web applications developer for the last 12 years, and I'm really excited to mix my tech skills and entrepreneurial drive with some purposeful investing.I have some experience as that typical "accidental landord" and have held my first home as a rental for the last 10 years.

Check out www.11capitalfinance.com Product sheet on their web site plus 3 minute application and will have multiple loan offers in under 24hrs. 

I would do as much research on the home as possible in the county appraiser's web site to get an idea of how long ago it was sold for and if there was a mortgage recorded on it. 

I find it interesting that I've not found any reports on the web of investigations, complaints of fraud from actual NRIA.

You can do a simple web search to find brokerage firms that will hang your license for a flat fee verse a % of every sale/purchase but you won't get much assistance from them and I am not sure exactly how "legal" all that is.Other things to consider, 1) there is a fee to have access to and be able to list on the MLS, 2) I think the state requires you to carry or it would be a very good idea to carry Errors and Omissions insurance commonly called E&O insurance 3) if you plan to tour properties, you will need to get those electronic keys that agents have and I am guessing there is an annual fee associated with that.Those are the big ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Bonus points for web presence. 

See below: I got this wording from the web after googling "Pennsylvania real estate license requirements".

I am a doctoral student with: [list]little debt (car loan and 35k in student loans), little assets (3k in an index fund, 7k in a target retirement fund/Roth IRA, 1k in individual stocks, 5k in cash), little income (just my student stipend of less than $20,000/year and another $2-3000 from web design and illustrating jobs on the side), and a little family (wife and two kids).