My favorite licensed real estate guy, me and my favorite Real Estate investor my wife.

His favorite word is "unfortunately".  

Dawn Brooks is my favorite for commercial and Haley Gann is the best for others.

I am wondering some ways other investors are finding deals without paying high marketing expenses (direct mail, google ads etc etc)?I am thinking about doing some driving for dollars then finding the owners...then als...

It's one of my favorite RE books as it gives so many insights how to find your core FOUR people in your team, how to build your credit score, how to add value to the property. 

Helping people understand the ways to think about investment (real estate and otherwise) is probably my favorite part of my work (broker).

Do you have other databases, like people you used to work with, frat, church, sports teams, etc.   

Well there is not one set answer but the best thing to do is really take the time to learn you market and more importantly network with your buyers to see what they are buying and what they are buying for, Another way that is my favorite way is looking on the MLS or Propstream to see what the cash sales are in the area and try to be below the cash sales.

In time you'll probably turn into the de facto GC, doing almost no work yourself and hiring it out to your favorite handymen and subs.

You definitely name some of my favorite resources here.