There are properties listed under "Pre-Foreclosure" on Zillow and a lot of them.  What can I infer from that?  There is no listing agent and not much information, but there is a listing price.  

I have experience in prospecting for sellers so this could be an option, not sure if we can get to my price point though.Main issue I see are the neighborhoods.

What are things that you wished you had found out about prospective tenants, before approving them?

Gerard,Dan is correct, I believe you are looking at syndication firms that pool investor money (investor is a limited partner in the deal) and the syndicate group does all the work finding, acquiring, improving and managing the asset with the goal of earning attractive risk adjusted returns.  

I listened to several podcast, I cant just single one out but just wanted to get different a prospective from the people I want to be like.

I live in south central Montana near Billings, I'm open to not only large firms but smaller ones as well.  

I hope to work for a firm during college.

You will offer a contract of sale where there would be no commission or settlement cost and that your offer is NET to seller.Once you have control you can now work on locating an assignee - you have options -List it - not a great option -  if you want a fast sale -listing it will take too long - too many contingencies - too many gate keepers.Offer it privately for sale - all cash - as is - social media - too many moving parts - you need to negotiate with prospective buyers, show the property - write a contract of sale - and demand CASH - won't be easy - My favorite option (remember I am an auctioneer) - offer the property - while in contract - at PUBLIC AUCTION - advertise it for 3 weeks and let the auctioneer do his magic - it is fast - predictable - all cash and as is without contingencies. 

I've not always had an agent representing me.Given that, what are the pitfalls, if any, in this prospective deal if there's technically no selling agent involved and i don't bring an agent to the table representing me?

Meanwhile, the young tech workers coming to San Francisco have no problem leaving the city soon after for more affordable tech areas like Seattle, Denver, Austin and Los Angeles:https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-05/san-francisco-tech-firms-see-workers-flee-from-4-500-rents“We see re-locations out of San Francisco increasingly,” said Mehul Patel, CEO at Hired Inc., a San Francisco startup that connects job seekers to employers.