However, it's still unclear how everything will pan out in the a few years, and how the effects of the current increase in activity will play out in neighborhoods like Little Haiti. 

With 7 units, hiring a company would not likely be cost effective as the basis is not there.

You are effectively going to be handing these people your checkbook, so you want to get to know them and the area well enough to be sure its safe to trust them with your money.

Sam,Something of value needs to exchange hands in order for your contract to be in effect.

Most licensed individuals don't find the commission on a $30k property worth the time and effort to show and market it, so that property can be sold using the wholesale model (which is basically brokerage, but skirts the RE license laws by utilizing contract law).If a property was worth more than say $100k (certainly this varies, but just as an example) it is probably just as effective to sell it through a traditional brokerage.

We have a good rent deal for the location, but any purchase (that we live in) can reduce our cost of living, and effectively: cash flow.

Blog networks, guest posts, crazy Russian blog networks, etc are all still effective in the *short term* but usually wind up with you sites getting slapped (penalized) or outright banned in the longterm.Most good SEO agencies now function more as digital PR firms.

You should be familiar with Fair Housing, Landlord Tenant Laws, and how to effectively perform a lease-walk (i.e. showing).

It tells me you probably had a very effective ad with good pictures, and that the property is nicer than most the rentals you are competing with in that neighborhood.  

Lot's of development coming to the area of my new property, but it won't start effecting the demographics for at least 3-5 years.