@Giovanni Brown Some properties are a better fit for the auction method.

Definitely want to play the long game, I just really like the idea of getting started using this method as I don’t have a large amount of cash on hand 

Re: postcard method, it's not foolproof but it's pretty good...

Two methods you should look into more is "House Hacking" and Owner Financing.

Coming from the Midwest with a relatively low-paying job I wouldn't have enough cash to invest using traditional methods.

There are a lot easier methods to get ahead of the curve to buy properties, before bank pulls the rug out from under the owner and auction it off.

@Justin Y.If to you "tax shelter" means any method of reducing taxable income, then you may be focused on the wrong reason to invest in residential rental real estate.There are three advantages to investing in rental property:  Appreciation, Cash flow, and Tax benefits. 

However we are the number 1 seller in the greater Cleveland area so it has proven to be the most effective method on the planet to moving investment property in the Cleveland area.

An alternative would be to apply the RUBS billing method for water/sewer, which costs no money.

@David Frey the method that many of us vets talk about is using your BAH to pay for your SIDE of a property.