Some may tell you that you can systematize anything, but the problem is, every individual home is different (even the newer cookie cutter neighborhoods).Focus on two or three neighborhoods and know what a good deal looks like in those pockets.I would also temper your expectations as far as finding a lot of equity on MLS.  

The answers are individual specific; people can tell you what they'd do, but without a thorough knowledge and understanding YOU it won't have much relevance.Here's my suggestion - read books, search for biographical information, and become familiar with people who have accumulated a good size portfolio of real property, to see how their ambitions, experiences, knowledge, and personal attributes align with yours.  

I'd echo what many of the individuals who have responded already have said.

I don’t see any real estate competing with that.  

My investors acquire with cash as a routine investment strategy to secure properties quickly and eliminate competing buyers using financing.

Instead of hunting individual SFHs, what if you partnered with us on a turnkey deal?

I can't think of a worse investment strategy than lending unsecured loans to individuals who don't have funds to cover the deposits associated with real estate transactions.

Quote from @Eddie Gonnella: Hi all, I want to start a thread about the pros and cons of listing STRs with a personal individual hosting account vs as a 'brand' or 'business' account.

Unless you are buying $1mm STR locations they can’t compete with what you can rent for $5,000 any where in the world.Without knowing your rent rates and facilities.  

I understand this is almost only used between an individual buyer and an individual seller who is seller financing the property, not banks.