I know this is a lot of information but I wanted to start a platform to clear up this topic as much as it can be understood for everyone on BiggerPockets.

I dont know if this is because of COVID or because they changed their platform to include this on addition to their classes. 

I would like to explore the world of stock trading apps, but I want to know what platforms the majority would endorse.

I dedicate at least 2 hr a day for bigger pockets and about to upgrade to pro even though not ready to buy quite yet.

Consider paying for data platforms like CoStar or Property Radar if you would like to keep tabs on who the most active buyers are... you could reach out to those companies to become an investor.

I'll need to look closer at Zillow and leverage their platform as well - it sounds like that's been working best for you. 

At what point in the first-time REI journey, little things such as opening a checking account dedicated for a BRRRR property becomes a must-have?

Beyond the fact that I don't like one company price fixing a market (which they really go out of their way to tell you they are not doing), the realization of the platforms optimizing for occupancy puts their native smart pricing tools at odds with my interests as an owner, which ideally optimizes higher night rate over max occupancy since I like expensive furnishings to last longer than 1-2 years when I'm turning it over every single day.  

@Michael Kammer:Hey Mike, sounds like you are dedicating to real estate.

Hi Gayle, this is a great question and in many circumstances, self-supplied applications can be of some concern (ie. just like other self-reported recommendation letters, it may not always provide thorough enough insight into the applicant; however, some platforms (built with independent DIY rental owners in mind) make it possible for tenants/prospective renters to complete online applications and then share those applications with other landlords if, say for instance, they didn't get the first rental that they applied for — in fact, depending on the tool they use it can be a great way to only need to pull their credit once (which would include current credit score and a breakdown of their credit history, nationwide background check, and eviction history) if they have multiple applications circulation, which is not all that uncommon.