You can drive for dollars, knock on doors, network with REIA members, vs. spending money on marketing for example.  

Example: I'll jog through key areas that I think I might have potential to attract buyers, I'll engage people in conversation/negotiation daily, and I'm thinking about knocking out my appraisers license right after I get my real estate license.

You really have to market and door knock to get the deals.

Her insurance wasn't that great, but it did knock out the remainder of the mortgage (which she was behind on due to a horrible car accident).

I went to the house today and knocked on the door.  

Knocking all attorneys and then singing the praises of big insurance companies pretty much discredits your guidance.

Save your money and do some door knocking.

And to piggyback on what @Lee Smith said...in my humble opinion, you have to have a STRONG will to talk to people, knock on doors (if you have the time to do so), be yelled at about things that aren't your fault, and know that you could go weeks (or months) without landing a contract.

These were usually houses that didn't sell and the listing expired, I called owner directly or knocked on their door, craigslist for-sale-by-owner, or it was October/ November, and the seller knows they won't sell a house now until the spring because winter is coming (I'm in upstate, NY), and nobody leaves their house when it's freezing out. 

We managed the properties and at about 20 minutes it was easy to get to but we didn't expect the tenant to knock on our door.