This is not rocket science.

I am currently pursuing my dream of self-employment by buying, renovating, and selling homes in the Bay Area, as well as working as a project management consultant on projects for local developers.I earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and holds a degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a degree in Computer Science from the University of Missouri.

Why not just get a real estate license, takes a few weeks and isn't rocket science.

I am 20yr old full time student studying Environmental Science.

As much as we like to think there is a SCIENCE to marketing, I've always contended that it's more of an ART.

I don't think "keep digging" is particularly helpful advice whether hunting for gold, oil or missing owners.What I've found is that you have to combine art and science to prioritize your efforts to be effective.As a new opportunity detective, I suggest you reorganize your efforts and eliminate any property you determine is bank owned.

I have software skills (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, etc) and I was looking to leverage them to do some jobs for those who are looking for an extra data edge on their property analysis.  

It's so artificial that a judge in one of the district court of appeals once called it "The legal fiction of the 1031 exchange". 

There is a real science as to why but that's an entirely different topic that is tangential to your post so I will leave it at that.

@Stephen Dispensa Thanks for clarifying, it sounds like you have it down to a science after many successful deals.