So, you could refinance it for maximum cash out (but still some cash flow), instead of selling.Or, just invest from your other resources. 

I mean people with enough resources to make them workable but every single time I tell them the official process to make them work, they back out.In short, if you want to do one, you'll need to build two.

Planning on curving out some time to spend a couple of days in Chicago and target specific areas of interest.

Zillow and Redfin are good resources but I would only use them as a guide.  

Also, what website would I use to target absentees, evictions, foreclosures, etc. to gather my list to send direct mailers to them?

https://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/resource/your-ri...

Trying to build a business model out of it is more likely to be a waste of time and resources.

You can also buy targeted lists from them at a really reasonable rate.

The content and topics resonated, and BiggerPockets provided EXACTLY the resources I needed to continue aggressively learning about real estate along with the tools to put that education into action.MY SHORT-TERM GOALS1.

Try to focus on a target area and get to know it very very well to minimize the chances of buying the wrong deal.