So my question is can anyone suggest a method on how to view units that were rented recently and for how much they rented for? 

What's the deal landscape like in this region for SubTo, seller finance, and other more creative methods to purchase real estate?

Ultimately, I would like to flip one or two homes before incorporating the BRRRR method.  

Quote from @Angelo Darin: If you take money out of your current property, it's a method of borrowing to borrow.

Several points but no this is not the future of home flipping:-With your presentation, you pointed out all of the costs of selling with the conventional way of flipping but omitted them with your method. 

So on your next property, with using a "Foreign National" style loan you can leverage the amount of money you have...or use the BRRRR method to refinance INTO a "Foreign National" loan from purchasing a property with Hard Money Loan. 

Well, for one, some new building materials and methods are unproven at best, and junk at worst.

They'll walk you through the process to see how much you can take out and what it will cost you.This is common in the BRRRR method.

We would usually take this property down with Hard Money and then refinance after the rehab (that's the BRRRR method) and your property looks like a KILLER deal.  

Is this the best method or just do a simple cash out refi ???