My philosophy behind this is: Find a duplex with a vacancy and try contacting the owner using this posts techniques https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/05/0...But in that post he has the magic words everyone wants to hear = CA$HAnd well I can go FHA, FHA203K, and even conventional.

As far as finding properties there is no magic pill.

They key is to get the awesomeness agents think they are internally to match with the reality how  people actually see you.When those 2 things match up is when the magic happens.   

Magic number is 4

SFR:Listing Price - $45,000Accepted Offer - $39,900Rent: $650-700 (Conservative estimate) ($800-850 aggressive)Running the numbers, I've assumed the conservative rent estimate of $650 for the area, 7.5% for vacancy, as well as a conservative estimate of 10% for maintenance as well as 10% for cap-ex, for a total of 20% put aside for upkeep (the place is approximately 80 years old so I know maintenance will be a real thing).The area is decent and low crime, although only being a couple miles away and "up the hill" from a D+/C- type neighborhood allowed me to get the place at a decent price.The numbers I've run has my monthly passive income in the range of $75-125, depending on a few factors I won't know for certain until I own the property.I know that's not the magic number of $200 monthly per side/SFR. 

Either their FICO score didn't magically go up 150 points, or they didn't use those years saving up a down payment ("something" always comes up), or they switched careers and have been 1099 for 3 months, or maybe even something else completely beyond their control.Most of the time, these folks would have been better off in a normal market-rate rental, rather than having paid a non-refundable option fee and/or above-market rents for 12-24 months and/or paying for all the maintenance during that time.Most of the time, rent to own is a killer deal and a slam dunk... for the landlord.

There's not a magical date to hit them.

It's typically not so easy that the first person you talk to, everything magically falls into place.

After you pay $650 for an appraisal, $1,000 for property taxes, $1,000 for origination, $650 for title and so on it's very easy to get close or pass that magic number.

There's no magic Fidelity-style app where you complete a survey, factor in your age, and a risk-adjusted portfolio (in our world, a property to buy) just pops out for your consideration.