You bet that as you get into C and B- neighborhoods there will be areas where the 1% rule is the norm. 

So to bid on them, your best bet would be a 3rd party bidding service. 

PEX is your best bet and should be less expensive to install and last longer.

I bet I can find 50,000 more stories of pit bulls who never harmed a single person.  

Theoretically that could be right (though inflation and accessing that equity need to be taken into account), and I hate betting on appreciation anyway. 

Well if you bought something at a 2 cap how much further cap rate compression are you going to bet on?

Before investing, your best bet would be to decide your goals, objectives and constraints (some of which you have pointed out).

Yes they are $99 but if you are starting out at least for now its safe bet til you get your feet wet. 

I'm betting it's not much.If you go the single family route, the better option is probably to move out of the home you're in now and rent it (since you probably bought it for a lower purchase price than what's currently available, and have been paying the mortgage off for 10 years).

You're agent isn't really "yours" per say, unless you're able to pay them for that time, 10% acceptance rate isn't going to do that.But, if you're hell bet on the quantity.... then start calling the listing agent.