When you counter, or make a substitute offer after the seller says no to your original offer, all you're doing is telling the seller your first offer won't your real offer, so the seller will keep countering until the squeeze you to death.Make one offer, no counters, no alternates, and they either accept it or they don't. 

There's no substitute for being in person.

But I quickly learned there's a huge value (and no substitute) in working with a mentor that's been through it all before.You may be able to find a local investor to help you through this deal, but that could take more time than you can afford.

Very few folks at BP have had true training in Mortgage Origination, Probate, BKs, Divorce, Wraps, AITDs, CFDs, Lease Options, Title Problems, Sub2 and Land Trusts, negotiating with the seller, DOTs and Mortgages, subordination of notes, substitution of collateral, etc.

However, I understand the hesitation.Depending on where you are, you could substitute teach during the day and bartend in the evening to make up a bit.

There is simply no substitute for going there yourself and driving through (and walking) through the area.

If you have great credit, and a large credit CAPACITY, this can sometimes be substituted for capital.  

These tactics might offer substitutes for conventional financing.Good luck!

However, I did discover that the property was refinanced in 2004 and I found foreclosure filings from late 2010 to early 2011 (appointment of substitute trustee, etc).

In my opinion, there's not substitute for hiring a contractor who specializes in stucco and pay them to access the project on-site and quote the job.