I've heard multiple times that the investment on these guru companies is not necessary.

If there's a common heating system for the entire building (or multiple units within it), that would be an additional expense for you.

Google has been cracking down on duplicate content since February 2011: http://searchengineland.com/google-forecloses-on-c...From the 2011 article:"We’re evaluating multiple changes that should help drive spam levels even lower, including one change that primarily affects sites that copy others’ content and sites with low levels of original content.

Then you have to be ready to deal with a multiple offer situation, which is more of a question of how certain you are of your numbers than anything else.

Running the numbers multiple ways not only points you towards the optimal strategy, but it also helps you develop multiple exit strategies (EG: flip is plan A, hold as rental is plan B, or visa versa if B>A). 

I just recently started engaging with this forum myself.

I'm slightly confused thou because highest and best is usual meaning there are multiple offers but you are also saying you got a counter?

Also larger brokerages with multiple offices will likely have many seasoned Brokers willing to have you help out.

(Some of the books that helped me the most I have read multiple times) Financing your deals is not impossible if you have downpayment money, but if you have a BK and no cash, you're right, it's very challenging. 

If you have budget for multiple properties, and bandwidth for multiple markets, consider evaluating "deals" from both markets.