You can find them through local real estate investment groups or online platforms.Auction or Estate Sale: If the property has unique characteristics, especially being a large, old Victorian, it might attract specific buyers looking for such properties.

A longer timeline will make paying the extra 2% now more attractive.

I would just be cautious, as there are some rough neighborhoods in both Akron and Cleveland that seem attractive due to the cash flow but will be money pits after the vandalism and vacancy. 

Highlighting features like “walking distance to top-rated schools” helped me attract renters even during slower months.Negotiate SmartlyWhile sticking to your legal rights is important, a pragmatic approach could save time and hassle.

Trust me, I have been there.I suggest you try to House hack in cities that you are already familiar with and have some connection with.Hire a great investor agent in that market and ask them all your questions and concerns.That I believe is the best way to get personalized advice tailored to your goals and lifestyle.You giving out Cleeveland and Toledo on your post will only attract biased opinions and advise.Only you know what you truly like, want, and can deal with.As Nicolas said, read this post and comments and hope that gives you a new perspective. https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/1215726-break...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/963/topics/1195280-expe...https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1137397-balti...Goodluck and keep us posted.

Now, either I'm not posting in the right places of i.e Cragslist / BP etc or my ads aren't as well constructed as I think they would be to attract motivated sellers.

However, I constantly see syndications advertising very attractive return.  

You have to attract interested parties that are willing to sell you their property cheaply because they need to vacate ownership for one reason or another.

As a result, this isn’t the kind of market that attracts top-tier PM talent.Your best solution might be to either:1.Take on self-management if possible (and if you’re willing to put in the time/effort).2.Find an individual you can trust to handle these properties, set up very specific instructions and processes, micro-manage them initially to ensure standards are met, and compensate them well to make it worth their while.This approach requires more oversight on your part but can yield better results in markets like this.

On the other hand, if you’re financially secure, the low-rate loan and potential appreciation make holding more attractive.