Great place to strike up a conversation, that could turn into a deal.  

I am not a commercial real estate guru, but it would just strike me that there are not a lot of better areas around the city that could offer a little more security for your investment.  

If you mean you are doing mailers and talking to sellers over the phone if they call and strike a deal then I'd say you are at a disadvantage to those who go and meet the prospective sellers.

That strikes me as either sloppy work or dishonest.  

Until you make some kind of decision on what strikes your fancy, it's impossible to get any useful advice. 

you just need and equity partner... then you two strike whatever deal suits the both of you.these things are fluid  not set in stone and each has their own deal structure.. its the fun part of real estate.however the first lien holder may require your equity partner to go on the loan with you.they may not accept a 80  10 and 10 deal.... in the old days it was perfectly fine.. but now not sure@Chris Mason  is there 80  10 an 10 product out there are these being done in the investor arena

, inventor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War, and a prominent member of the Astor Family.Was he a speculating forty-niner chasing the hopes of striking it rich?

Just strike up a conversation with them be friendly with them they’ll be more than happy to talk to you for a few minutes.

Is it an option to strike a deal with the seller and write a contract stating I'm going to fix the house in order to get a conventional loan, but if the seller changes her mind selling the house she will be reliable for these expenses? 

Sure there are a hand full of investors out there who strike gold.