I need access to the MLS.

Tools like Zillow are getting pretty good at estimating market rents and rental listings are broadly available to see what others are asking in the area, but actual closed lease rates are the best indicator and agents with access to the MLS is the best tool I'm aware of for that

My Primary goal is to live in a home in an area relatively accessible to the mountains, ski resorts, and the city.

There are a few self-contained guides that you can access here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/guidesAlerts can be really helpful too: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

Unless you plan to pay cash for your properties, get pre-qualified for an investor loan, so you will know how much credit you will have access to.The end goal - This is usually something like $10,000/Mo. income, in present value dollars.Time frame - The shorter your time frame to reach your goal, the more initial capital and credit you will need.Your plan does not need to be complex or in any specific structure.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has published the results of research conducted into how lenders are likely to be doing their business in the future, and what new information and personal data these companies plan to start asking from borrowers in order to determine their credit score.The biggest takeaway is the seemingly inevitable shift from merely accessing credit information to also incorporating people’s online behavior into the process of deciding whether to lend them money necessary, for example, to buy a house.Compared to the way the system now works in most countries – these changes, which are expected to be coming soon, look fairly invasive privacy-wise, and with no “vision” of proper safeguards.

Also, I wouldn't dismiss all brokers, as some of them have negotiated terms they can offer or access to private or lesser known funds you may not be aware of.  

The owner is a very small nonprofit who has ties to my family, so we aren’t going to use any RE agents.I’ve noticed there is a North Carolina vacant land contract, but I don’t have access to it as a Texas real estate agent.I’ve noticed there is a North Carolina vacant land contract, but I don’t have access to it as a Texas real estate agent.Do I need an agent to complete this form? 

It will give you access to VA loans, which can get you into a house-hack for virtually nothing and can be used over and over again (refinance out of the VA loan, do another one). 

Use Rentometer.com or BP Insight to have an idea of what the property will rent for.If you don’t have access to either then use 90% of whatever Zillow Rent Estimate is for example, if Zillow says it will rent for $2000, then 0.9x$2000 = $1800 will be the most likely rent.That been said, the best comparable is the one you get from an Agent because they have MLS access with a lot of data that will provide you the best result.Goodluck