I've tried local a local Realtor but it's difficult in NY since I was told that investors have been snatching up the properties before they hit the market. 

I was looking at SFR's under 25k which attracts a lot of cash buyers and get scooped up very very quickly once they hit the MLS.

Always looking for homes in the Northern Nevada market..

But, I would figure out the rents by calling for rent numbers - rentometer wouldn't know how to estimate rent correctly if it hit them in the head.

Welcome to the world of Real Estate Investing and the many opportunities available to you.You made the first step in connecting on the largest social network specifically for the Real Estate Investing industry.Take the time to explore all the resources available to you.Networking is how to succeed in this space and as such I wanted to give you an open invitation to feel free to reach out to me at any time.I am located in the Northern Nevada market and doing buy and hold, wholesale and fix and flips… Best of luck with your Real Estate Investing Career.

Properties in those areas you mention won't give you passive income, unless you buy them and then hit a wave of appreciation.

Its one thing to live in a home, another to hold for a rental and get hit with repairs you are not budgeting for.

You might consider using a taskrabbit or fiver - compose a list you're interested in, either from driving for dollars or from that horrible list from the assessor and then give it to a taskrabbit - pay them to go down to the assessors office and manually look up the address - that is what I'm working on now because I have a 8-5 gig: if you have time during the week then you can hit the office your self.

That doesn't seem like money well spent unless I'm planning to earn $60k or so on each deal.And I guess my question boils down to: ARE people succeeding with direct mail in Northern Virginia? 

Let's not assume you must take a hit on your credit until we explore some options.