I'd like to hook up with an investor-friendly local lender or mortgage broker to see what kind of options or products I might have access to.

I am not super clear on what the best method to gain access to the equity in my house.

I think it's to gain access to their annual meeting.

I simply say "if we decide to work together, you get access to my entire rolodex, shall we start the process"?

You could just put in regular machines and not give your tenants access...of course, they won't be thrilled the first time they run into you with a basket of clean cloths under your arm.

Now we’re wondering if it’s worth us getting our real estate license as we continue to do more houses to avoid commission costs and get access to more potential flips/sales or should we just leave it to the professionals also and work with an agent?

You could get a real estate license and have access to the same things they do. 

Another way to prepare is take out a traditional mortgage on the property so that you 1. know what the monthly payment will be with certainty and 2. 100% will have access to the cash.

I would use your access to the MLS and deep search past Multi Unit sales back 20 to 30 years and approach them to see if you can work out owner financing to purchase if they are ready to sell.

Having spoken with a local title company they said all the liens judgements and data is done on line and we have access to the same records.