are you able to take advantage of the FHA 3.5% down program for first time buyers on duplexes/ multi-family properties?

No seasoning issues.But this blackstone financing program is an absolute joke for most of us smaller investors have no incentive for this loan program.

I do try to actually talk to the owner and try to verify in public records that ownership matches up.

That pretty well means that it is impossible for mankind to devise any method, system, program, arrangement or agreement of any kind that allows credits or reduces the fair market value that may lead to any purchase of residential property by an owner occupied buyer.

Or am I just wasting my time with this niche since these lists of vacant properties with code violations is all public information and higher level investors have already gotten their hands on these lists and marketed to the owners the minute they become available.

I believe there is a similar type document for non-short sale properties that are undergoing foreclosure.There are certain programs which allow homeowners to stay in home and either rent or buy back.

I've tried a few others since the new Buyer Select Program went into effect with HUD.

@Page Huyette you are making progress, but I'm going to encourage you to keep looking beyond these lender connections you've found because there are a lot of options out there and it sounds to me like you are letting their limited lending program box in your thinking about what's doable.

Essentially it's a coercion involving threats to reveal substantial information about a person to the public" Okay, so there's no blackmail here.

I suspect many people, though, will be using "cloud" programs.