My prior agent had given me an MLS portal, so I could find the deals, but when I did, I had to ride by the property and look around outside to scope out the neighborhood and general condition of the property. 

I’ve been riding around looking at properties and I’d like to step out with a hard money lender but where to do I start?

Go take a ride down to the town clerk / tax assessor, it might benefit your to talk to them in person at first to see what resources are available both at the town hall and online. 

I'm neighboring to you, up in Venice (I ride my bike a lot down to Redondo on the bike path), but more excitedly...I was pumped/flattered to see you mentioned my Numbers on a Napkin article in your post!

If it is a Class C or D area then you could also have a bumpy ride in the meantime.

search for cash transactions (no mortgage recorded) in your area the last couple months and go drive by the houses, most cash sales are investors. you can also search for homes recently purchased by entities as they are likely investors as well. also search for recent sales in your area and find the ones that have been remodeled (use keywords) and search for the person/entity who flipped it. lastly, you can always do the old fashion way and drive around looking for houses current under renovation.

Its like riding a roller coaster after your over the first hump its exhilarating.

That was a ride!

The fasteners, typically installed in Tommy Gun fashion... are very likely actually small crown staples.  

Anyways, back to the subject on hand, riding REOs and HUD foreclosures can be VERY time consuming with little results.