Knowing (now) how very simple it is to determine if there is a leak that needs further investigation, he should have done that.  

Many of my customers will not have even seen a house that's listed on the MLS before I present it to them because most of them are 30-50 with families and FT jobs that just can't make the time to go investigate every house that looks like it might be a good deal, only to turn out not to be.I'm not going to convince you to buy houses from me that are listed on the MLS and I'm not sure that I'm even trying to.  

The challenge I face is the limited ability I have to scout and investigate opportunities in person.  

That's interesting that you bring up Hamden, my wife and I were discussing and investigating the area recently.  

I am currently investigating a property headed to foreclosure.

Wholesaling, bird dogging or brokering without a license, you can be required to show up (with counsel if you like) at an investigative hearing held by the real estate commission and this is no courtroom, it's administrative law and the burden of proof is much different, you might say, it is what they say it is!

I am not sure if i can get financed on the 4plex, but it is worth investigating.  

They investigate your books, accident claims, accident logs, accident practices, if you are going to do roof - they might need an OSHA certificate, etc.

Cal. real estate investigation as it seems much more capital is in play there than I'm comfortable with starting out.

And after all the applicants have filled out an application, I take the applications home with me and I do a more thorough investigation.