Selling to buy new properties has a lot of costs involved with realtors, titles and capital gains taxes (variable depending where you live) so that should all factor into your opportunity cost ROI calculations.

No loans of any kind involved so activities such as the following one are definitely NOT possible for me: step 1: get a loan, step 2: buy a RE where i can be as sure as possible i will get people to rent it and pay the monthly rent fees (plus utility bill fees) matching in total at least monthly cost of loan, step 3: before fully paying off the loan, announcing (why?

In the Hudson Valley a builders grade type home in the finished areas would generally have a replacement cost of $200.00 per square foot.

There may be a commission involved, but at least you'll have the right audience of buyers. 

It gets a little involved and believe others may do it differently.

I know this question goes a million layers deep, but do you just go by the pictures that are posted online, or use a general calculation per square foot?

Understand the fees involved and calculate the total cost for an entire year of management so you can compare the different managers.

Any thoughts on getting eyes on this property from several contractors without getting PM's involved- or do I just need to get a property manager that is willing to put a lock box on without signing a contract with us.

Would you suggest any other tactics that involve buying but not completely in cash?

I have access to theMLS so I do not need to be forwarded listings from there, but we are looking for a 15,000 square foot lot (minimum) zoned commercial in Los Angeles for a client to expand his business on.