Within a residence there is a presumed right to privacy and installing cameras by you or your tenants can bring you legal issues.  

I've done a couple of direct loans, but for the most part, I work with a mortgage broker who brings deals to me.

Use the brokerage account to fund the downpayment and repairs to bring it up to the comps in the area.

And your cleaners will need to clean out the fireplace ashes each time, make sure the damper is closed, bring wood in or have a pile near the door, whatever.  

When you make a move every year and get a deal that will bring you wealth in the 4 ways we all know real estate can, You will look back in 5 years and see that all your deals look better. 

In the meantime, check with the city’s planning or zoning department to see if there’s any way to bring the property into compliance as a legal triplex or duplex.

Although as @Drew Sygit asks, what have those PMs that pledged to do it better now learned that may bring them back into line with main stream service providers? 

I did my usual response asking if they have been to the area before, bringing a dog etc. with no response.

A licensed agent can do all the things a wholesaler can do, and is a proven business model where the same hustle that any successful wholesaler brings to the table can be rewarded 10-fold more, with little in the way of legal obstacles.

Okay, bring on the angry posts from all teaser-victims [wait, I said I empathize….]Best of luckBob