I wanted to find myself getting in the habit of finding deals for investors so that if I came across an excellent deal I would keep it for myself, essentially cutting out in the middle-person. 

Excellent point and question. 

@Todd Dexheimer Thank you for the excellent mailing list leads!

Rather, for the subject and comps there should be a "property condition" line with entries like "good", "excellent", "fair", "poor" or some such. 

Both excellent books although I gravitated towards Osborn's book a bit more.

In fact, why am I paying $50,000 plus medical and retirement benefits for Joe when I can hire a virtual assistant from Mexico or the Philippines for 1/3 the cost that is just as qualified and speaks excellent English? 

We're very much focused on the South (GA, AL, NC, SC) and West (TX, CO, NV), but are always open to contrasting perspectives.Right now I'm enjoying Frank Gallinelli's excellent book, "What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About Cash Flow."

Do NOT take action until you have a solid plan.Do not go driving for dollars just because most people tell you to do so, and because you need to take action.If you really want to take action you do this.1) Do research on all the lead generation strategies you can think of and put them in an excel spreadsheet.2) Find out what the cost /deal is.3) Find out what the Cognitive cost/deal is4) Pick the right method based on point 2, and 3, that works for you.5) Save up money till you have they (monetary) Cost/deal x a factor of safety around 1.5 6) THEN spend money/effort getting deals.No matter what the heck you do, if you do not start with these 6 steps you ARE WINGING IT!!!

More often than not, you are going to have to reformat the PID as 'text' if you are opening the file with Excel, and you will have to do it in the Power Query window to make it 'stick'.

lol - only kiddinFINANCING, FINANCING, FINANCING - and the risks involved - how creative can you get - where else can you get money to fund your investmentsexit strategies - what and how to accomplish it - specificallyformulas - EXCEL - learn it, it's a great toolCash Flow Analysis - the real dealProperty AnalysisSeller Information - how to get itMarketing - the fun...but expensive stuff - oh and how to find free avenues for marketing your properties or businessto me, if you spend 6 months doing mock offers, tearing one house to shreds, on paper and really giving a realtor or two hell and improving on your own sheer noobness - it will pay off in spades, rather than get into something way over your head.