The market I'm moving to seems scarce on duplexes.It seems my only shot is to work hard and hunt for a SFR pre-foreclosure and live in it for a year, but with limited time to move and three small kids, it seems like a needle in hay stack.

I am on FindLaw now, which feels like searching for a needle in a haystack. 

I’ve been calling around the state and it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Of course there are those out there who don't want to list for whatever reason, but my question is always how much time and money will it take to find those needles in a haystack. 

If you find a needle in the haystack deal, sure, take on something that does $30-40k if you can buy it at $100-150k.Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions or think that I could be helpful.

Like @Jon Holdman said, and buy the books by @J ScottI did my first wholesale deal 30 years ago, and they are the best books on the subject BAR NONE.and listen tohttp://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/03/21/flipping-houses-101-j-scott/here are the books...http://www.biggerpockets.com/storeLastly, understand wholesaling is a needle in the haystack, so look at other ways, like sub2 and lease option assignments.Best wishes,Brian

Try focusing on looking for stacks of needles instead of needles in haystacks. 

In general you should expect deals on the MLS to be needles in a haystack.  

Finding a 10% plus cap rate property in a A/B area is literally finding the needle in the haystack in King County.

They may be there, but it's really a needle in a haystack scenario, so I wouldn't go suggesting to an out of state investor to keep knocking on doors until they find something.