As for advice, ensure your personal finances are in order, minimize your debt, secure a job, and learn learn learn form all the resources here on BP and any real estate book you can read.

This will help to minimize interest payments over time, if that is a goal.

Should I redesign these flyers and pitch them to the agents, or would that, too, be a waste of my time?

@Yosef Fares I'm no short sale expert but I relative of mine purchased a short sale last year and it is a great property that required minimal cosmetic work however the process for them was a huge headache and took well over a year to complete.

@Kenny DahillWe like taking the approach where we minimize our LTV ratios within our loans, regardless of whether or not we COULD take out additional cash during the refi.

My wife and I once attended a 'free' seminar that was simply a sales pitch for the Guru course.

If you know of any private investors you could pitch to, that is also an option. 

Due to this situation, I am currently searching for REOs or foreclosure properties with minimal damage to invest.Surprisingly, I found one property in a good neighborhood but not in a good location.

My other concern is making sure that I'm analyzing a deal properly and minimizing any risk.

@Jesse Fisher @JR T. makes a good point about trusts, BUT, unless you purchase in the name of the trust, and any mortgages are in the trust's name, it'll be clear who the owner is (you) with minimal research.