I have never looked into it but it seems like a great idea! 

As a Seller I try to have it, but agents always seem to pushback on it.

But, what I'm getting from you all seems to be that my mistake is not actually going to see the property.  

I want to get the ball rolling and start buying properties, just seems like there is no quick way to do it. 

The tenant's estimate (which seems pretty fair based on the utility bills) is that they've paid an overage of approximately $600 - $650 for the four months that all four units were connected to their meter.

I’d managed the properties myself, and the prospect of trying to do that while living out of state seemed unrealistic. 

I interviewed them, they seem legit.  

Hi All,I wanted to ask you guys if this type of analysis seems realistic.

I ask because although I've read that you can have success here and there with the MLS, it just seems to me it would be really hard considering the market exposure and then having to include, at minimum, the listing agent commission (assuming you could negotiate down the portion that would have normally gone to a buyer's agent).

Since this seems like an investment property for the seller, why is he selling it?