@Ned Carey I think the fundamental issue is that there is so much information just a click away that everyone in the courthouse steps bizz be it foreclosures tax sales etc.. will have to learn to live with this competition...For us in Oregon we had it pretty good in the FCL bizz up until the trustee's started putting everything on the web.. at that point you had stay at home mothers showing up at the trustee sales with baby in tow and 200k cashiers check :)...

You can web search them and the ones up in SL County, or I can put you in touch.

I'm a full time Web and eCommerce entrepreneur looking to get seriously involved in Real Estate investing.Other than purchasing my own home in Houston I have been involved in several out-of-state deals for family members that live overseas.

I also have google forms embedded into the blog so I can collect information from the seller.2) How can I compete with other Investors that use website consultants like Carrot, given I'm not a web dev?

I have tried dozens of them and they are all unreliable and inconsistent at best and very expensive. 

.)- county tax records via web- bestplaces.net (for economy, job growth)- Trulia/Realtor.com (for crime rate, users feedback about the area)Markets Considering:1.

Strong markets don't need much attention other then running a good ad on internet on  several web sites .Have a lawyer write up a contract  for a few hundred maybe more /less .

The web replays, leasing forms, and calculators are helpful.

I'm only 1 person and only have so much energy.I've had some success finding cheaper "handymen" but they are often unreliable, etc. 

I already have two full-time jobs (a 9-5 and then a side-gig in internet marketing/SEO/web design) so I have zero interest in flipping/rehabbing, etc which seem to be more labor/hands on.