First off, you need to identify if these people were scammed by this common fake PM scam or if they are in fact the perpetrators.

Here are some points that may help others in their letter writing campaign:Be professional in you content - get to the point in the first lineDon't draw pictures on the envelopeDon't draw dollar signs around everything - don't draw pictures of stick housesBe yourself - tell your story; example - we are a family business, looking to purchase additional properties for our family portfolio - we can pay cash but would prefer some seller assisted financing, glad to supply references if needed - we live in the area ----etc.Forget the YELLOW thingDon't tell on yourself, don't call yourself an investor - Don't lie - I can settle in 2 days - we are big (like a made up name -) people like to do business with others they can identify with - be humble if that is possible.As for sending letters to vacant houses that are Free and Clear - why do all that research - a waste of time in my opinion!

To minimize your risk and start generating cash flow I would build a success portfolio of vacation rentals you managed and identify what qualities make a successful property.

Identify a distressed property that meets my criteria.  

If you're really committed to those places, start scouring the city record to identify properties.

Of course I will need to redact my subject properties (both are off market properties) as well as identifying info (This offer is only extended to the OP because I only have so much time that I cannot do this on a regular basis - contact a realtor if you want this done for you and you are not the OP).   

@Marc Maser - why are you targeting pre-foreclosure properties and what list are you using to identify them as pre-foreclosures?

.- 30 yr am.If you can identify which 1 or 2 you want to give up, and can be crystal clear when Dialing for Dollars, it'll likely save you a bunch of time.

With this strategy you don’t have to worry about the tight 45-day timeline to identify a replacement property.

However, I have a comfortable allocation of secured funds for investing and there other reasons I believe I'd qualify for other loan options.My question is, how do I see about getting additional pre-qualifications on identified properties/home values without lenders pulling my credit?