Small talk, showing empathy, and expressing genuine interest in their situation can go a long way in establishing trust and goodwill.Be Willing to Walk AwayOne of the most powerful negotiating tools is the ability to walk away.

I too live in Marin, and feel it is a solid long term market for apprecaition, and utilizing the power of principle reduction.When it comes to refinancing, figure out what the loan costs will be, then divide that buy the monthly savings with the new loan in order to determine how long you have to maintain that loan to break even. 

The seller can supply everything they used to market, pictures, ad copy, etc., but they cannot sell their AirBnB account to another person.

And I also think that the inventory in your market plays a large role in deciding what property type makes the most sense.In my market, there is a large abundance of the small multi-family properties, especially the 2-4 unit properties.

DealMachine is a powerful tool for real estate investors, especially for finding off-market deals through driving for dollars.

Knowledge is power. 

The discussions we see repeated today differ from four years ago because the market has changed. 

Unfortunately, you have no power over the tenant until you own the property.

I'm looking to pickup some multifamily real estate but the barrier to entry is crazy in my local market.

Hi Anthony-You asked about the best ways to find off-market deals for your in-laws to buy and move into and you are focussed on the Santa Barbara, CA area which I have been to and it is gorgeous.It kind of reminds me of an Ann Arbor on the ocean. :)Anyway, I like your strategy of driving and looking for houses in need of repair and sending handwritten letters and contacting rentals for the reasons you gave.