I find that deeply discounted properties that scream motivated seller on craigslist does make my phone ring the most for finding buyers.I also had success with direct mail postcards to that zip code to non-owner buyers who bought in the last 5 months.Those are my successful things in finding buyers.Finding sellers is an entirely different problem for me.

From a numbers standpoint everything I have read here would scream stay away from these.I just had an offer accepted for a 4-plex in an area that is about one step above a warzone.

That and I love to get a screaming deal on something and turn it into positive cash flow.

The positive ones only have about 1 posting so that doesn't scream "credible" to me.

My dad is a long time realtor and property manager in California, so I guess you could say it's in my blood. I

I guess the saying about it being in your blood is true!

I think if your going to go big and make a business out of this it can be fruitful.. other wise if you have limited capital its like the OP said you make less than flipping burgers.Plus your capital is not liquid and if your cash is sitting there and that screaming deal comes up what then?

Also, if you file a claim for copper stripping, that screams vacant property. 

I am a opportunist buyer and never had one presented to me that was such a screaming deal that I would snag it.I have looked at a bunch of out of state stuff that was WAY too rough for me...

But you don't have to scream it.