I hand wrote letters to properties in distress.  

I have never been sent a letter from the city regarding this. 

Hello Laura,I have actively purchased land that I identified for the last 10+ years.The easiest way to find out if the land is for sale is to talk to the owner directly.You can use tools such as Whitepages.com surprisingly they have over 90% of people's cell numbers.If you can't get the owner on the phone, I would send them a letter asking them if they want to sell, I have seen other people use actual contract offers that they send out to the owner trying to purchase the property.I would not share my concept unless its some sort of Charity that you are either seeking a partner or donation for.I haven't used PropStream, However one really good tool is called Land Glide, its and app on your phone, and you can look at the parcel makes in real time, and also see the owner info and for each parcel.Hope this helps,Dustin 

What I did: direct mail to distressed home owners.  2000 letters -> about 3 houses a month.  

If I’m increasing rent or extending lease term, I send a lease addendum that rent is increased to $x per month starting x date and/or term extended through certain date, along with a letter stating see addendum for review and signature and that if tenant does not sign and return addendum to me by a certain date, then this letter is my notice to vacate by end of current lease term.

The attorney is actually a debt collector so you can imagine his demeanor and ethics.Now the buyer and I want their equipment removed and have sent a certified letter stating so.

We use Streamline and it will generate boiler plate things like a welcome letter, check in info, and check out info etc.

I did fire them on July 31st and they returned my security deposit but they are telling me that I should include the locksmith charges and the junk removal costs incurred by them and billed to me, on the tenant disposition letter. thankfully I am almost done turning the property by my own contractor as the quotes they gave me were astronomical.

I handwrote letters to distressed homeowners and mailed them.  2000 letters provided the opportunity to buy about 3 deals a month.   

Banks and institutional servicers are not usually willing to get involved and assist customers and stick to the servicing agreement to the letter to avoid liabilities, and that makes good business sence, but we adminstered deals that were underwritten and failure was not an option!