Foundation Issues, Termites, Mold, etcDifferent Ways to Fill Vacancies:Tenant Referral Program: $100 Open HousesSpecials for SoldiersBannersCorporate Outreach ProgramsFlyers in laundromats, hair and nail salonsAds in the local college newspaper Ads in local ethnic newspapersClassified AdsStrong tenant retention program How To Raise Rents:Shop The Competition to learn market ratesGet the exterior looking good, new lighting Repair the common areasAudit Your Rent RollWhen repairs are complete, approach tenants and give a small bonus renewalsYou should always raise rents, even if just $25 a year, to get tenants in the expectation of some sort of increase. $20 a month on 10 units = $200 a month which is $2400 a year which on a 10 cap increases your value by $24,000.

Check the local newspaper or city police crime website for info as well.Good luck

Here  Send mailers to out-of-state landlords of multifamily housesSend mailers to absentee owners of single family housesSend mailers to vacant land owners (only in specific areas in the path of growth)Place “We Buy houses” flyers/business cards at unemployment offices….a lot of people there could be having trouble with their homes and may need a solutionOne-page Flyers posted on bulletin boards at large storesPost ads on craigslist stating, “We Buy houses”Send emails to craigslist ads with properties for rent (the emails will go to landlords who may be looking to sell, or buying more properties)Mailers to specific zip codes, asking if they want to sell or know someone who doesMailers to divorce attorneys who can refer clientsMailers/emails to FSBOsBuy a “leads list” of landlords from AgentPro247 or RealQuestPost ads on Backpage stating “We Want To Buy Your Property”Send mailers to properties purchased between 3k-20k within last five years (the owner might be a novice flipper who never did anything with the property)Send mailers to Estate/Probate Attorneys (if you have an attorney, consider having them send the letter, because attorneys tend to open mail from other attorneys)Bandit signs: “We Buy Houses”Send mailers to owners who have owned for 15 years or more (these properties tend to be owned free and clear, which means they could be much more flexible with their sales price)Send mailers to people facing foreclosureTarget people who own vacant homes – these are almost always ripe for purchasing at a discountTarget people who are dealing with financial chaos of any sortSend ads/mailers/business cards to Credit Repair Agencies & Credit CounselorsTarget HUD/VA ForeclosuresPurchase leads lists of folks who inherited homesSend mailers to people arrested for violent crimes (going to prison for a long time)Send Mailers/ads/business cards to RealtorsSend mailers to employees who have been laid off (ie “corporate downsizing” in the news)Networking with other investorsLocate list of section 8 approved properties—send mailers to the ownersPost Newspaper classified ads: We Buys housesSend mailers to Properties with liens: Mechanics Liens, HOA Liens, Tax LiensContact sales people at new home subdivisions (their clients will want to sell their OLD houses) or place a sign near a new home subdivisions that say “Sell Your House Fast” with your phone number.

Convince me:  tell me some (reality-based) facts that counter what I read in the newspapers? 

Yeah, it seems hard to justify the costs on some of these things, especially FSBOs because they are so easy to find on Craigslist and local newspaper sites.  

My first duplex I found in the newspaper and used the traditional 20% down to purchase it.

Ones who advertised on half a dozen pages in the newspaper.

Open a newspaper or go online to city-data.comGood luck.

There were several times worth of toilet clogging and unable to flush (the plumber found a toy in the P-Trap and newspaper the other time).

But it was always kind of a hobby on the side until four years ago when I quit my job as a newspaper editor to do this full time.