I discover why it was sold at the tax sale, seek out the previous owner and get a quit claim deed from them (even if a new deed was awarded from the tax sale), then attack the collection deed and win the property back, usually for just a few hundred dollars. 

It’s like they have nothing to lose - it’s only win-win for them.

They only have a simple promissory note that they likely now have to file a lawsuit to win a judgement, with again no promise of repayment. 

One of the principal industry concerns about the vast power granted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was that these powers were too insulated from review….The ruling sends a crystal-clear message to federal agencies that their powers are not unlimited…We would not be at this point today if government agencies were more prudent and consistent about staying within their statutory authorities, grounding their rulemakings in empirical facts, and heeding appropriate procedural safeguards…Instead, too frequently, our regulators appear to be chasing headlines and short-term political wins.”National Association of Homebuilders - “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is an important step forward to advance meaningful regulatory reform because it means that federal agencies can no longer continuously change the law – and the intent of Congress – by implementing their own interpretation of statutes as long as the interpretation is viewed as being ‘reasonable.’

Remember in Life and Real Estate you can either "Win or you can Learn."

If the seller chooses to stay with me and sell, then I'll pay the agent a strong referral fee.It's a win-win-win for the referring agent, which gets me a lot of business.

When they do that client's WIN. 

My verdict: it could be a winning play given your equity and potential upside, but carefully weigh the pros and cons.Crunch the numbers: Factor in all expenses, potential vacancy rates, management costs, and ensure the cash flow covers your mortgage and leaves you with enough buffer.Consider alternative Bay Area locations: Maybe there are suburbs with less pressure on prices but still good rental potential and appreciation prospects.Don't rule out the single-family option: If the numbers work and you value the lifestyle, don't discount it entirely.

If you get a single or primary point of contact, call that a win and count yourself lucky. 

It's a win-win for everyone involved!