Well I called to complain and their response was that this is their standard operating procedure and they would not have shared my private financial information if I had instructed them otherwise.WOW...just...WOW!!

It is right on the fringe of being legal/illegal, and lawmakers have been talking about how to regulate it for years because it can be a dangerous process that leaves end Buyers feeling like they weren't represented.....especially when they see the closing statement and find out how much the wholesaler made just by getting to the Seller first. 

Follow your state regulations on notices but do everything you can to avoid an eviction.

Consult a CPA or real estate attorney to understand tax implications, build a reserve fund for unexpected costs, and research local regulations to ensure a smooth and profitable transition into rental property ownership.Good luck!

But for many people, it is one of a number of sources of deal flow, to add to MLS listings, wholesalers, direct owner outreach, auction, etc.Assuming you are specifically talking about sheriff auctions, just make sure you familiarize yourself with the general procedures for the auction.  

You should consult a real estate attorney or tax advisor to handle the legal and procedural details.From a tax perspective, there are several implications.

Maintenance department (are there preventative maintenance procedures?)

Much of my career for the last decade has been in Cybersecurity, and we feel the same about DOJ and regulations around incidents. 

Duplexes provide privacy, flexibility, and scalability, but strict short-term rental regulations may increase upfront costs and maintenance.

This is something their screening probably would have caught, or their system would have a legal procedure to deal with it.