What I am trying to better understand is at what pointy that restaurant owner able to either delegate or reposition so he / she doesn’t have to the restaurant every day. do they need to obtain more restaurants or keep offering more to their current customers?

Can anyone recommend sources for contact information for property owners?

Call the mechanic or gas station up the street and ask the owners if they know someone.

Some types of Creative Financing include: Seller/Owner Financing, Land Contract, Wrap, Assumption, Subto, Lease Option, Contract for Deed.

I do appreciate you taking the time to respond regardless.The IRS specifically calls out owner distance from rental and having a property manager as a red flag that owner isn't materially participating.

By doing this we qualified for a larger mortgage because we could use the rent from the other tenant to qualify and there are better lending programs when it’s “owner occupied”.  

@Chris Seveney What is their name, and what types of owners/realtors have they called for you?

Hi, I am the owner of DealMachine.

You are competing against other owners who have a much lower basis and/or debt cost to cover. 

I agree that is will be a gamble as to how well it will do.Also, ask the owner if they will entertain partial owner financing to keep from dragging family and friends into this risky business venture.Maybe even rent from owner for a year with right to sublease to see how it goes before committing to a purchase.