I live in Los Angeles and the numbers just don't make sense here for cash flow to me.Some technologies/resources I use when evaluating some property are City-Data, Trulia, Zillow, Google Street View (to drive the town), City Tax Assessors web site, Realquest, Angie's List (a must!)

Is there a local data book that appraisers go by to make adjustments for carpet vs tile vs hardwood vs laminate, or brick vs wood, architectual vs 3 tab, etc?

So they don't really compete with each other, but rather work in a format of trying to extract every possible cent from the collective email lists of everyone in this sordid little fraternity.

Being non licensed, you'll be violating laws by collecting a commission/referral fee for finding them a buyer.

To add to what Belinda correctly stated, in Texas the state turns over delinquent tax collection to attorneys.

Lease option sounds like the way to do this.I have lease optioned homes where the market rent is $1,200/mo but I was able to collect $1,400/mo simply because more people want the opportunity to buy (I credited $200/mo to save up their downpayment).I was also able to "sell" the house above market value (by +10%).

Get a down payment, find a building, get a loan, buy it and collect the profits.I'm getting the impression from what you're writing that you don't have the cash needed to actually buy apartments and you're wondering if you can raise that money.

I screen everyone way before I collect an application fee so they don't get mad if they do not get the place.

You can data mine the MLS this way and learn a lot about who is buying / selling in areas you are interested to invest in.

Read more on the biggest takers of public money during the Fed bailout here: http://www.bloomberg.com/data-visualization/federal-reserve-emergency-lending/Bank of America whistleblowers cited examples of how Bank of America employees were administratively giving the run around to borrowers seeking loan modifications or due process on their foreclosure process.