You will need an active real estate license if you'd like to earn yourself a commission on the purchase of your properties, that is if a commission is offered. 

HELOCs typically function exactly like a credit card except thy are secured by the property you are borrowing against, whereas a normal credit card is unsecured.

There's an active private FB group and also monthly coaching calls.

I am an active buy and hold investor on  Whidbey Island (and other markets).  

How do you actively seek out these sort of people?

These events will normally contain seasoned investors and would be more than happy to refer you to a CPA.

I can easily search company names in my state on the Florida Division of Corporations website and find out who created the entity, their address, the date they created, whether it is active or inactive, etc.

Agents that are very used to work with Overseas Investors and that are very pro active and would like to be successful and they are open to various investment strategies. 

Can you benefit from it when you are actively doing business, absolutely yes. 

There are also latex topcoats that have active enzymes that will "absorb" ambient odor such as Harmony from Sherwin Williams.