For NYC and other rent-control areas, I would investigate registered legal rents.

The seller's market doesn't help when acquiring distressed properties but it helps A TON when you're selling freshly rehabbed homes.

, you can call a few of these in your area and simply ask to speak with their newest agents, then their agents that work most with investors, and often the managing broker would be helpful too.Here's the 'why'- new agents will have their State and National exam fresh in their minds and be able to answer question you've got there about the exams, and it's great to have some fellow 'newbies' that are hungry and ready to be really helpful (if you join one of these brokerages, you know you've already got friends to help with open houses too in a lot of cases)In speaking with agents that work more with investors, you'll kind of be able to 'interview' them and just ask what works well/tips/advice for how they make their transactions as smooth as possible.

I recently moved up to Allentown, PA for a new job, and am able to start fresh without having to worry about paying rent due to a family member letting me stay at their property.

The Agency’s investigations are complaint driven, so we rely heavily on the public, and our licensees to bring these individuals to our attention.

Have you already created an LLC or other entity to purchase a property under and secured/investigated financing options?

The house required mainly cosmetic repairs, including extensive sheetrock fixes, a remodeled kitchen, updated bathrooms, a fresh paint job and landscaping.

This is also what I found through my own investigations and was hoping a lawyer would help me draft up an agreement so that if a tenant did accept it then I wouldn't have to pay them until I could verify that the property itself has been completely vacated but they immediately advised against it and that they would not do such a thing.

We have SEVERAL leads that have either gone cold, incorrect information, or need further investigating just to get in touch with them to set an appointment. 

Quote from @Seth Kristian: My In-laws had found a rental last year...It sounds like a lot of these problems should have been obvious from the beginning, so your relatives are at fault for renting it without investigating more closely.