I'm basing this on the Wholesale Calculator as I used, practiced few scenarios to see the numbers.Hope this helps out!

Understands real estate well and runs his own practice so he knows what it's like to be a business owner trying to minimize taxes fully.

You'll have some catch up to do regarding learning best practices for landlording and the BP site has a wealth of information for you.

I would also welcome any best practice advice.  

I'm also looking to connect with fellow hopeful investors in the area and share ideas and learn best practices.  

I'd like to work with an agent through whom I could access the MLS to practice evaluating properties using the BRRRR calculator on BP.  

Again, this is under the assumption that people actually do this - it may be common practice within the industry, in which case it may be acceptable.  

I am an attorney in Illinois and my practice area is focused on real estate tax sale and tax deed issues.  

The practice of rating neighborhoods is called RED LINING and a licensed agent/broker is forbidden to do so.  

If you buy as investment fix and flip then you have to go hard money or Alt A then the rates would be higher. should not matter whether you are out of state or not we deal with many out of state borrowers. the normal practice is go hard money get the property stabilized quickly and then refinance out to a landlord product if you are buying and holding Jerry