You don’t even have to attend some conferences, some will publish a list of their speakers and/or attendees and you could simply reach out directly after researching their firms online.

I couldn't find much information about them online besides their own blog posts and a few interviews with the founders, who were promoting MHP business and themselves. 

Sometimes you get lucky.You could even bring up the subject of seller financing (search online for ideas of how to structure a seller financed offer), and make sure a competent real estate attorney helps write the offer documents (if it gets that far). 

Networking with local real estate groups or online forums could help you find recommendations for PM companies that have a proven track record in Birmingham 

If they are available online or in person.

But this was late 90s so way before on line stuff had taken off.

There's also free services for tenants to pay their rent online which include some light accounting features.

If your local municipality has an online court records, go to their website and look up both criminal and civil histories.

I've found deals in local online groups on Facebook, simply asking people for what I want. 

So, this whole "you must live in the property for 1 year" claim that we see online seems to be completely baseless.