If  you end up approaching this with an antagonistic attitude like many are suggesting, it's not going to fly well and you'll damage your relationship.  

How do I navigate the processes and find the right approach to adopt for achieving my goal of generating an income and preserving wealth in the long term.

Doubtful but that's an interesting approach.

By taking a strategic approach, you'll be well-positioned for a successful real estate investment.

This post explores strategic approaches to strengthen the resilience and growth potential of CRE investments in the face of these evolving dynamics.Embracing Technological InnovationTechnology plays a crucial role in transforming the CRE landscape.

If so, is there any systematic way to find these markets besides word-of-mouth?

I know that, overwhelmingly, it's what you fill your head with that counts, it's the day-to-day actions you take, it's the spouse you marry, it's the systematic choices you make, and perhaps most importantly, the personal hypocrisy you don't allow yourself to get away with.

Take a strategic approach so you'll be well-positioned for a successful investment.

Baltimore gets a bad wrap sometimes, but from an REI perspective it can be great if approached correctly (which it sounds like you are doing!).

If you approach this business with the mind set of stealing the seller's equity - you are not going to be successful - remember you are dealing with folks who have a serious problem - show some empathy first and you will win in the end.