Typically you would do this for agents in your own brokerage as I've never heard of doing this for an outside agent.

@Lyca Shan do some searching on the forums and you will see a number of posts like this one which show who the folks on Bigger Pockets are using for agents.

I am not familiar with Phoenix but each area could have "public" MLS access which does not include all available information that is for agents only. 

There's always deals out there for agents who are aggressive and smart enough to find it. 

Here is a blog post I did for agents; http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5110/blog_posts...

I don't see any reason to throw away 3 months of payments just to stay in a house that is underwater.Anyway I'm just trying to figure out what next step should be.Shoud I start shopping for agents with short sale experience?

My advice would be to look for agents who are online talking about property insurance and educating the public.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/3/blog_posts/42...The link above I talk about, as an agent, door knocking to expired listings.I talk about why the listing expires, and how to make 3% as an agent with lease 2 own if...

(FYI, this is their first year of tenancy.)We'd LIKE to place the home on the market (vacant, which is easier for agents to show/sell) sooner than August 1st (or so), in order to take advantage of the summer "buzz".My question for you, is how would YOU go about "breaking the ice" to them? 

Here are my thoughts and relevant information:Agent- How do I search for agents that are well seasoned in investing?