My wife did the bidding because it was the first full day of school in August and I'm a 5th grade teacher.

I am wanted to know what some of you have done to possibly unofficially/officially employ these guys to help me drive streets, look for properties that are distress or fit my criteria from the curb in my farm area, and take addresses for me to later contact after scrubbing through them at home.Ideas so far: just feeling this out with several high school/college age friends my wife and I know, a general consensus is that most would be happy to do this for just a full take of gas and if we land a deal they get a cut/flat rate.

Within walking distance of schools and downtown. 

Is the house in an area with good schools?

He recently lost his job and wants to stay in the home until his kids finish the school year in May.

It is hard to get in and contribute to the forums with school and work but from what I have seen the networking that is done here is an invaluable asset.If you haven't done so already, I would suggest downloading a podcast streaming app for your phone to listen to the BP podcasts in your car.  

I'd like to practice my art (since I'm already in school for it) and invest in real estate too if at all possible.Since I do not know any successful investors in this industry (yet), I read books from people like Kiyosaki, Robbins, and de Roos.

I'm probably the only idiot that applied for permits and did all the work to code...Next year, I plan to acquire more NH properties and less Vt properties, though I bought a couple of high profile Vt properties in town, (both made the newspapers, the school was the front page headline story) so I probably won't realize my plan to make NH my primary residence as they hove no state income tax...

My dad was always interested in real estate, and I wallpapered, tiled, painted, did yard work, etc, all before leaving junior high school.  

Just based on numbers and not other things that clearly matter like schools, specific location of property etc, how would you rate this opportunity?