The later strategy (acquiring a property subject to existing financing) is a great way to get control of a distressed property that you intend to buy and hold for rental, and refinance into a new loan later (or sell) when market conditions are more favorable. 

It should start making sense after a fashion.

You want to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible.

Just make sure the terms are favorable to both parties and that you are protected.

I like RedFin more than Zillow or Trulia because it allows me to see the distance from the subject property and pertinent details in a fashion that works a little bit better for me than Zillow or Trulia's comps.

While I agree with Ned that's it's not necessary, a website is one of my favorate ways to market.

It has a place for some businesses, but over the top for mine and a disproportionate ROI and ROF (return on frustration) that resulted in my writing off my $25,000 investment in favor of simple.Then we could talk about analytics, but that makes my head hurt.

Not that they want a lower return, but they just favor the more expensive assets.  

QuickBooks however, wraps everything up in a tidy fashion. 

There are of course many work arounds, one of which, I reason, is to get my license so that I can do step 2 in my own time, putting in whatever time and effort I feel is required without asking for favors.