Is it possible for an investor to gain access to the MLS without an agent?

Just finished BP's Ultimate Beginner's Guide and it was great.I want to fill my head with as much knowledge, go to meetups, and connect with as many people as possible so I can gain confidence to make my next purchase.Glad you reached out!

Once you get to know the sellers and gain their trust (it may take a few conversations going back and forth), then you should ask them if you could get a few estimates from contractors on the work needing to be performed and go from there.

Now that more user-friendly options like Zillow, Trulia, Hotpads, etc. are gaining traction, Postlets seems to be the way to go, at least in my market (NW side of Chicago). 

Cash flow is taxed differently from capital gains.

Are you trying to figure out how much you'd gain if you foreclose, or how much equity protects your note?

Can I do a 1031 exchange for this transaction and, if so, can I defer the capital gains tax?

My main question that I'm hoping to get some advice on is if it would be smarter to use the money we've saved up to purchase a primary residence here in Los Angeles so we're no longer throwing money away on rent, or if we should use that money to invest in a rental property, either locally or some place like Atlanta, where I'm familiar with the market and is definitely more affordable.We're trying to educated ourselves and gain as much advice as possible before making any serious decisions.Thanks in advance for any advice!

Money will help in networking to gain credibility with buyers.

If I sell it before July, I will be able to take the small gain tax free.I have it currently rented to an A+ tenant.