The dreamy master bedroom is spacious, offering a large walk-in closet and a master bath you have How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

Some of these properties are offered at a fraction of the market value which is one of the reasons investors are incentivized to buy.

When you can't decide, make the offer.

My wife and I had a “corporate meeting” and we made them and offer and ended up purchasing the property for $1K over our offer price at auction.

DaveI do not have any instruction to offer.

Buyers expect Sellers to cower in the corner at their amazing low offers as if they are doing the seller a favor.  

Places in the Midwest like Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Kansas City are good for this too, and in the Southeast, cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, and Raleigh-Durham offer cheap buys and lots of renters.

You lost me completely by your failure to understand that if a buyer approaches a seller and offers to take over their property subject to the lender's lien, and stops paying and puts that borrower into default or, if the borrower was in default already, that "buyer" may run afoul of local/state laws and may be accused of equity skimming.

Should we offer preference and less equity?

You can start real estate investing, reading resources, familiarizing yourself with the Albany, GA market, setting short-term and long-term goals, preparing financially, building a team, conducting property searches, conducting due diligence, making an offer, managing property, and joining local groups.