I'll mention too, an option doesn't tie up a property as much as most think, I can give you an option, then later sell the property, subject-to an existing option, if the option is exercised then my buyer must sell (taking a profit) if not, the option expires and they own it.See your attorney for a restriction to sale if that is a concern.You might investigate Rights of First Refusal, filed they can give you 15/30 days to enter into contract, that may give you another 60 days to settlement.

The IRS has a right of redemption period that they always let expire, but you wouldn't want to be the one who put money into the property just to have the taxman take the property back.Congratulations on jumping in there and getting going.

I would add MLS expired listings, code violations, evictions and obituary listings in the Oregonian newspaper as additional sources. 

http://goo.gl/x3fCBYAbove link has a long article about why houses don't sellYou could make several articles either on your blog, website, or just print out letters and deliver them in personCould be FSBOs, listed houses, expired listings, etc.

My license expired, I still use the same approach, "I was a Broker here and......"

Yes, buying redemption rights is very similar to buying sheriff's deed/certificate on foreclosure sale.With sheriff's deed you wait longer (in MN 3-6 months if a property is vacant and 12 months if it's agricultural or owners have at least 50% of equity) If you buy just redemption rights, there is always a risk that somebody could file a lien (mortgage or mechanic) and become a junior lien holder and pay you off and redeem you.That's why people who buy redemption rights try to do that one day before redemption period expires so nobody could file a lien after them.

I added myself and the buyers as additional insured.Since that time the old insurance policy expires the end of this month without the option to renew since the former owners had made multiple claims against their insurance policy.

If its an expired listing then you wholesale it just as you would an off-market property.

Pilfering close by centers who lease is about to expire might be ripe for the picking.Some of my clients and friends average thousands of dollars per hour earnings so they would just rather have the commercial office leasing broker bring them the tenant and compensate them for it.Did your friend build in leasing commissions and tenant improvements for filling the property up before they bought it??

., then you need "guerrilla marketing".Guerrilla marketing has to do with finding a problem and offering a solution.My favorite problem is an expired listing.