@Rahdia GreenIm sure there is a more efficient way but real quickly here's an example:I assume cell A1 looks like this: Green, Rahdia. 

can I get away with just my cell phone starting out or is a business #/fax line necessary to start out?

The Wall Street Journal Complete Real Estate Investing Guidebook.  

Is it best to contact absentee owners who are out of state through direct mail or cell them? 

I have about 60K in school loans, I bought a new car in January with car payments, and I have all the regular bills as does anyone else like cell phone bill, car insurance, cable/internet bill...that kind of stuff..and I live at home with my parents.So I have been really really looking into real estate the past couple of months.

All free ones offered at your local library.Beyond that, the unofficial guide to real estate investing, the Keller guy from Keller Williams books, the wall street journal guide to RE investing (it's called something like that).

Just like cell phone companies, they will be super nice to a potential and/or new clients.

We like to also sign up for the Business Journal in our areas of interest.

Give me a call/email/text and I can forward info for a few lenders in town.Dawn NiermannRealtorBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices904-662-1357 cell/text

He had a BUYER (investor) agree to pay both agent's cell phone bills for the following 12 months just to keep the deal from falling apart since there was no room in the deal for commissions anymore.