Their site looks nice and pretty transparent, although the FAQ about pre-payment penalty is a bit vague. 

Also, some people essentially abandon their properties to the tax collector, because there is some type of flaw with the site, i.e. access, utilities, etc.

if you don't have that relationship you need to get on site as often as possible to ensure things are going well or hire a local property manager to oversee things for you and then rent it out for you.

The other site that ends in /landlordbookbonus (which is where the audio book said go) downloads the material but an error messages pops up when you try to open.

I know your post was about direct to seller, but in the multifamily space, if you're looking to purchase bigger deals, anything 100+ units, it's more challenging direct to seller.I would start with sites like Crexi to aggregate data in a specific market, and target what you're trying to buy. # units, time left on debt, how many years held, whatever you're focusing on.We've also had some success using wholesalers to bring us deals.

They post to many sites and so people are finding it on Craigslist, Apartments.com, Hotpads, etc

A quick search suggested that the following surveys could be completed in the diligence phase of self storage facility acquisitionBoundary Survey: ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey: Topographic Survey: Site Planning Survey: Floodplain Survey: As-Built Survey: I'm curious which of these are necessary versus nice to have

Many on here will disagree with me, but owning scattered site single family portfolios is an effective investment strategy is there is a a significant appreciation event that occurs.

Even on this BiggerPockets site, there seems to have been a difference in the pricing that was extended for the two packages to different potential clients who set up informational calls which I am not able to gain clarity on the differences to and why there is not one set price for each. 

(On Maple Street only about 3 blocks long I owned 12 houses...once I bought into the street I found value and became known as a cash buyer who maintained their properties so my phone rang and I shook hands on the street to keep it ringing.)Always check ARIES the Lucas County Auditor site.