So maybe just knock on the door. 

Or it needs to be knocked down in which case we would put up one duplex now and a second later, or depending on zoning we may go more units than that. 

As a side note - THIS is what gets me pumped about going to work every day and what I hoped for from writing Set for Life - I love that folks like you can develop strategies to aggressively knock out financial worries and then pursue their creative passions in life distraction free. 

I'd bet you'd have more of a chance of finding say 10 people to knock down smaller deals than the 1 person who could knock down the entire deal.So many people claim to be able to fund a deal no issue no matter the size "if it's good enough" but I find that hard to believe and rarely see examples from it unless it's an established player...

It's more complicated than a single variable complication.So, to answer your question, knock yourself out with sweat equity and amenities in the unit you're occupying. 

They send out a mailer, cold call, or knock on a few doors and since a deal doesn't fall in their lap they give up.

Then again, I cannot part water and have screwed up many times (I like to say I have a degree from the "School of Hard Knocks"... now my wife @Kristan Avila keeps me in check).

With a limited budget you're probably looking at door knocking. 

Nothing says great management quite like a stranger knocking on your door telling you they heard your home was put up for rent.

@Alonzo Mansel sometimes yes but unless you plan to knock on strangers' doors every day (which isn't that efficient) hustle can only take you so far.