Yesterday I was able to find some better resources online. Turns out that for this area there are three good online resources I've found so far. The first one I found a couple days ago--an MLS system called REIN that lets you view listings online and subscribe to get updates when new listings come out. I don't know yet what the deal with it is--if it's the full MLS, how often it's updated etc. etc. Yesterday I also found the "normal" classifieds for the two major newspapers online where FSBO's (for sale by owner) are listed and where realtors advertise. It was kind of a maze to find them online since I kept getting redirected to the REIN system.

Today while on a walk with my son I noticed several homes for sale in my neighborhood. One of them said it was seller financed. I called the Realtor--the seller owns it outright and will settle for a very low ($1000) down payment. It's a 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, 1010 sq ft and the asking price is 140,000. I'm not sure with that price if I can generate cashflow, but I left a message with my Realtor (who is also an investor) to see if we can work something out.

I got pretty nervous on the call and failed to ask why they were selling, the terms of the loan or how long the home has been on the market, so I'll probably end up calling back today to find that out. I want to talk to my Realtor first though.

Another thing I noticed was a for sale sign on a vacant lot with a Realty company I hadn't heard of. They cater specifically to investors and on their website it mentions how they specialize in working with new investors. I'm not sure what the deal is, but I gave them a call and have an appointment scheduled for this Thursday.

Other minor notes--I ordered a bunch of other books on Amazon about Real Estate investing using a gift certificate. I've also been listening to Carlton Sheet's No Down Payment and reading more in Multiple Streams of Income to learn new tips for creative financing and keep me thinking about it. I had to exchange the wall map I bought because it wasn't detailed enough. Four days in I've spent 5 bucks on a map and nothing else. It's been fun so far.