Is this a person who is, from here, going to turn their life around from the desperate situation that they find themselves in right now, such that they are willing to take a Subject-To deal? 

I would ask, when you say real estate, specifically what are you trying to accomplish or do?

Quote from @Tiffany Henning: I am in the same situation but ultimately will most likely go with Seth Williams because it is not necessarily a money-making funnel for him but more his heart to help. 

Unless you are going for a specific look, there’s no reason for an expensive toilet.

All situations are specific to individuals.Our best wishes and empathy go out to those LA individuals and communities.It’s been about 6 years since one of our storage locations was flooded for about 4 months.  2 feet over the roof.  

I was hoping some folks might be in a similar situation or had a similar experience and might be able to share. 

Small talk, showing empathy, and expressing genuine interest in their situation can go a long way in establishing trust and goodwill.Be Willing to Walk AwayOne of the most powerful negotiating tools is the ability to walk away.

A straightforward way to estimate value is by looking at the price per square foot and using that to calculate your property's worth.In situations like this, it's worth spending a couple of hours yourself to get a solid understanding of the market.

Networking, local meetups, door knocking, mailers, wholesalers, online forums specific to your area of interest.  

My book recommendations are not mindset necessarily, they're specifically tailored to passive investing and the reason for this is I think having an educational foundation on mindset and strategy are important but getting too hung up on mindset may actually keep you from taking action.