I was particularly inspired by BP Podcast 006 w/ Arthur Garcia, who holds a full time job, but decided to build a strong enough buy and hold portfolio to not have to rely on it forever.

I'm relatively risk adverse so want to have contingencies in place and fully understand the actions I'm taking as well as to build a solid team to rely on! 

In Chicago, I rely on the Trib's crime tool on their website.

I can see this working but not as something you rely on for regular snow removal at least not  here. 

I wouldn't rely on trulia for good data, but rather as a ballpark.

If you rely on a real estate agent for that, you likely will end up in a situation that you don't want to be in.Second, I live in that area and in my experience, there aren't very many good deals on the MLS these days.  

Also, rather than relying on wholesalers why not try looking for yourself?

Our early purchases relied on the longer amortization period to cash flow.  

I don't live there so I need to rely on someone I can trust.

There are a thousand things that go sideways - just know that the property only being 6 acres does not necessarily translate into a less complicated development.