I also runs a motorcycle repair shop on the side and I teach occasionally at the local college.

Occasionally houses come up in the high 200k range. 

I certainly don't need to be there watching over their shoulders but occasionally it's a good thing.

See cars in the driveway occasionally but no one living there full-time.What is the best method for finding a homeowner that is not currently living in the house?

Feel free to visit our company website (in my signature below) if you want to get some idea of how we operate; we self-manage a reasonable amount of single-family homes (and occasionally apartments) through this website.

@Andrew Curro I'll use the 1% occasionally but with interest rates so low it's really irrelevant.

Find an old hair successful investor who will share his hard earned knowledge and will only cost you cup of coffee or an occasional lunch!  

Occasionally what is good for them will be good for you.

@Frank LaQuaglia Mainly talking about small multi-families above like duplexes occasionally 4-units, but larger multi-families is a given they would need to be covered by the owner. 

Reach out to all the land brokers that do advertise on the MLS occasionally and let them know exactly what your "buy box" is (parameters of a property that you will say "yes" to and buy).