They want retail price for their houses and have a plan to sell  2-4 annually on the MLS.As they won't owner finance and I can't offer any more, do you know of any more advanced techniques that would allow me to pay a higher price for the properties but still have reasonable cashflow?

No, you need education, smart, targeted, and up-to-date for the 21st century.You'll learn step-by-step seduction techniques like the Subject To kiss close, the unrefusable checkbook flash, how to buy her a house for ca$h, templates for writing red-hot yellow letters, and compelling scripts to follow on the phone when speaking to motivated prospects.

Each time I've used a different 'technique'.Suggestions:1) Have someone go with you that will hold you to your top dollar and not get emotional.

Others (like myself) prefer to specialize and become masters of using one technique to solve certain problems.What's not to like?

My last two properties I bought, no money down I used the same technique on both.

Unfortunately, the settlement wasn't the only problem with property (voids beneath slab, issues with plumbing, "interesting" repair techniques, and a whole of lot of other things that added up to a "no" for me at the price and my current experience level). 

I hope you got a good deal on the house, because its now not as good.if you want to avoid eviction, consider cash for keys or a myriad of other similar techniques to try to get the tenant to leave

That is a really great book and I find the technique he describes very helpful.However I feel like there are a few items where it's going to be hard to estimate their cost by myself, even with the described technique.

Just wanted to get some ideas from people; so utilizing the "other people's money" technique I applied for a 30k loan and was approved at 8.99 apr.

This experience will give you all the technical skills and underwriting techniques that will be invaluable in your goal endeavor.