If you are looking to access the MLS for deals your best bet to avoid costs of being a Realtor would be to find more than one broker to help find what you are looking for.

Thats basically retail these days for something that isn't absolutely perfect.To me, your best bet is to try to sell this to another owner occupant.

@Jay Hinrichs - To be fair, I do not know where many 2% deals are located and I would bet that most are found through direct mail, tough digging, great negotiating as well as really good relationships with those that helps find those kinds of deals.That is for the true 2% deals that actually perform.I now know where you are coming from on the ghetto type houses and the 2% "on paper" deals and those can only be achieved at super low prices, IMO.  

I made very little progress, because I lost my focus.

It'll match the existing bathtub and it works for our needs.If you have the money try and match the tile, if not shower board may be your best bet. 

Thanks, LuAnn Quicbooks or an excel spreadsheet are your best bet.

I watch the people slow down to check out the progress of a project and think to myself why the hell am I not taking advantage of this? 

Congratulations on such great progress.

Any other ideas on how I could access a HELOC without having to go back to work full time, which would severely  hold back my progress at building my own business and reaching the bigger goal which is  of course becoming self sufficient.  

Will be ineterested to see how the progress goes.