The best way to find a lender or an investor is to look locally, @Karen Hurd, and real estate clubs will likely have the highest concentration of those with money and an interest and understanding of real estate in your area.

Have lived in Laguna for many years, worked OC real estate, and there are no more Lagunas on tap either.At Strategic (in Agoura Hills, cover SoCal from SD to SB & Inland Empire), where I work, we concentrate on buying distressed properties at auction (second biggest buyer in SoCal), and, after many decades, have made our "mistakes" long ago.

For now I'll concentrate on rehabbed 3 to 6 flats in stable communities but I don't see too many on the market that's within my price range. 

I would also say you could concentrate on certain types of markets, say college towns (think Omaha, ann Arbor, Charlotte would be an example)s or military communities (Fayetteville NC, Colorado Springs,  Killeen TX) .  

What they want is pure concentrated high quality content to rank well.

Some of the firms guarantee rent payments for a year, but even they make no long-term promises.Taking StockInvesting in a home means placing a risky and concentrated bet.

@Mike Ordunez  As a wholesaler you need to concentrate on these five areas:1.

Plan to make offers on several deals before you get one, and if you see one in a great neighborhood for a price you can live with, you better jump on it quick before the listing goes to multiple offers.To specifically target these owner occupant deals I recommend you visit www.hudhomestore.com and www.homepath.com every day to see the highest concentration of owner occupant foreclosure listings.

No short cuts to success, you need to concentrate on paying off all personal bad debt and live frugally to allow you to save enough for the DB.

Don't concentrate on the type of home (SF, Duplex, etc), just get one.