@Jimmy Jefferson There are "commercial" lenders out there that offer "hard money" style financing that allow you to vest in your personal name. 

In my experience, 1% is break even with this style of building when you self manage.

This weekend we are getting a metal roof installed, and then we're moving on to the systems work, insulation, window installation, etc.So far we are about $20k in on the project.The roof line is pretty interesting - intiially we had a gable style roof but it was going to cause some issues with how it lined up with the existing fascia, gutter system, and some windows. 

@Ray Thorsen I would look a doing a white or light grey shaker style door on the uppers to make the kitchen brighter

Sometimes they are REO listed for sale by the bank in an auction style format but the auction already happened long ago and nobody bid and the bank ended up owning the property.

There are a lot of old 1930s ranch style houses in the valley that sit on large (For LA) lots.  

@Donald Styles Skip tracing.

You can purchase a wide variety of styles in the glue down version — even a textured wood plank which is very popular today in home design.

You can certainly purchase a home with cash and refinance after with no job using commercial/portfolio style money (private money too).  

In CA we are in an environment where a 5-Unit Townhome style building, has been on the market 192 days and the owner just dropped the price a measly 55k, down from $2,125,000.