If you are retailing, I say definitely stage it.  

There are several benefits to buying foreclosures at auction:Unlimited inventory (generally)Very limited competitionProperties are always below current market value (minimized risk)Ideal scenario for any exit strategy (rehab, wholesale, retail, rental, etc).......just to name a few.Let me know if you need help with getting started!

As a retail buyer:You have to look at your market and comparable homes, although it is an REO that doesn't mean a bank will give it away.

I am looking for a cheaper way for acquisition/rehab without paying massive HM fees. 

I bought a beautiful massive 4 plex. 

A flip property is inventory, just like if you had a retail store. 

Multi units are hard to move as your retail buyer's list is about 1/20th the size of a conventions SFH.

For example dirty, copper stolen, etc so the retail buyers pass.

Well, you get kudos from me Brian I spent years as a bouncer in the heart of Dublin, was always my backup job while I worked my way up the retail ladder.

We also have some investments in some real estate funds: an Affordable Housing Community Fund (mobile home communities throughout the country) and a commercial real estate fund involved in purchasing and managing a retail mall in Houston. for my self directed IRA, I'm doing trust deed investing with a turnkey company (dealing with mostly memphis properties) to the tune of about an 8-9% return.