Worse, what about unexpected personal losses not even related to real estate (job loss, health issues, catastrophic event, etc.)? 

The public library is good but for the more technically inclined online you have Open Library.

Accountants, Insurance agents, financial planners, stock brokers, tax people, Trust administrators, loan officers at banks (banks won't buy a seller financed note) bankruptcy attorneys, any government office that administers public benefit programs: Division of family services, welfare office, medicare, don't think that a note holder is always wealthy, they inherit a note and can't live off a $300 payment, the note is an asset and disqualifies  people from receiving benefits.When I said "they called me" it wasn't just note holders, many times it was the people trying to work with the note holder, they had a problem to solve to assist their client.I was the only Note Appraiser in the state, I believe, the state sent me notes to appraise!

One advantage is that you would have an agent's access to the MLS and know more things about the property and owner that is not meant to be for the public.  

In a "Net listing" an agent that makes an agreement with a property owner for them to take a certain price and allow that agent or facilitator to earn the difference to a higher price is considered contrary to the public good, contrary to ethical dealing as the profit stems from the lower purchase price agreed to rather than from paying a set fee based on the owner receiving what they are entitled to.

Paypal (as mentioned previously), Chase Quickpay, etc. where you have control over what you accept as payment and your personal account information is not shared publicly.

The public can find it at ok.gov/orec 

TWIN CITIES METRO:The Best of Times May Be NowLocal industry observers agree: the Twin Cities rental market is humming along smoothly with all the usual health indicators still flashing go.

Is this public record?  

Anyways, one day I hope I get big enough I have influence over the local government and fire all of them cause that's simply what they deserve. and yes I am not afraid of spouting this in public, because as mentioned, Many many people HATE working with this municipality.