This is the criteria I used:-Owner occupied properties-At least 40 % equity-Last sale date: 2010-At least 2 bedrooms-Exclude corporations-SQ FT 1000+-SFH-AGE: 35+3 weeks prior sending these letters, I hand handwritten over 300 letters and the response rate was much higher.

Some title co.s, including those for REO's, don't check for "unrecorded" liens, and exclude them from your policy.

You might think foundation is insurance, but you will find on almost all US property policy anything with the foundation is excluded.

Yes, that will drastically reduce the # of leads, but the thing is, I don't exclude owner-occupied.

If on the other hand, your cash flow (excluding debt payment) from the property is at least 125% of the the debt payment, then you should be able to scale with out a borrowing issue.  

@Sarah Miller If you live in the appreciated duplex for 2 of the last 5 years you might be able to exclude the gain.

She asked me why I had excluded neighborhood x but kept y.

Asking price: 195k cashAssessed value: 169kFirst offer: 130kMax offer: $165KRepairs: $5-10K, which we can fund without helpCurrent Yearly Net Profit: $25KCurrent Cap Rate: 13%Based on the info provided by the owner, the current expenses are close to $800/month excluding property management.

Asking price: 195k cashAssessed value: 169kFirst offer: 130kMax offer: $165KRepairs: $5-10K, which we can fund without helpCurrent Yearly Net Profit: $25KCurrent Cap Rate: 13%Based on the info provided by the owner, the current expenses are close to $800/month excluding property management.

. - Certificate of occupancy—Sale or conveyance of title.If the inspection reveals violations of the City Code, excluding "life-safety" violations, as determined in the sole discretion of the code enforcement department, the subject property may be issued a "temporary certificate of occupancy" to permit the property owner to remediate said violations while occupying the property.