If you’re tired of competing for the same properties as everyone else, it’s time to explore off-market deals.

Yes, I learned through the BP podcasts that these vehicles are out there. 

I ended up having about 10 abandoned vehicles / RV's (some looked like meth labs...think Breaking Bad).What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Long term buy and hold RE in good locations is probably one of the lowest risk investment vehicles IMO, similar to blue chip aristocrat stocks except even less risky because even long-established companies can go out of business but real estate very, very rarely ever goes to zero. 

If you want to be completely self-sufficient, you're willing to build an Earthbag home or another building that can be earthquake proofed but can still be run without public utilities, you can spend a ton of money on a well and can have that well water processed to remove contaminated mine crap, you have a great off-road vehicle and you can figure out how to deal with the flooding without redirecting that water onto someone else's land then you can definitely live there.If it's an Investment you're after, give that up.

Specifically I am trying to figure out the best vehicle through which to conduct our REI.

I STR it for 15-20K a month in the summer, and was offering it for rent for $2100 a month in the winter (lower than any comparable houses), and was getting tire kickers at that price. 

I’ve watched clients reinvest capital from a tired old rental in one part of the country into vibrant, up-and-coming areas like certain pockets of Austin and San Antonio.

I would not envy investors who participate in this vehicle when the team has not track record of success with it. 

Its up to you the investor to realize this before you invest in these kind of vehicles.