How do I go about finding those who'd rather just collect the insurance money then sell it off at a discount?  

Most people selling properties are not professional investors.

Selling the rentals via installment sales could also spread out tax liability.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

A mortgage lender can help determine if refinancing or tapping into equity might allow you to acquire additional properties.Consider a 1031 Exchange: If you're open to selling a current property, a 1031 exchange can defer capital gains taxes while enabling you to upgrade to a larger or more profitable asset.

I have helped dozens of BP members purchase and sell STR homes near Disney.

This burnout led to me selling off my rentals, dissolving my business with family, and having my mother take over managing her own units.

They currently are selling 3/2 homes for about $150k and rent them for about $1,250. 

Quote from @Basit Siddiqi: I personally would not buy real estate with a retirement account.There are just too many headaches that are not worth the potential increased return.Some headaches when it comes to investing in real estate with a retirement account1) LTV values are less and harder to find lenders.2) Potential to sell or partially distibute the property if you have to do a RMD(Required Minimum Distribution)3) If you run out of cash and have to make a major repair, you may be out of luck and have to sell.4) Having to potentially worry about UBTI(Unrelated Business Taxable Income)I would personally invest in stocks/bonds/notes with a retirement account.I buy deals with cash and use a ROTH SDIRA so there are no RMD's.I buy at huge discounts to retail.

I am eyeing up a property I want to buy that costs much more than usual so my plan was to use a hard money loan to purchase, and rehab it with my own money, then sell. 

There are a bunch of reasons people sell a property.