If you can acquire the place for no interest or very low interest it will be much easier to meet him/her on price.

Everyone who's actually involved though--including highly experienced investors in the area--say this is where to go as other neighborhoods won't cash flow as well and are thus riskier even though the tenants may be a little easier to work with. 

And my experience has shown me that the easier the sale for the seller the more likely they are to have problems post sale.

Technically they could ask for money for services , but it's probably just easier to go to the next agent in the area.  

Based on this deal seeming to be a moving target, if it were me, I'd back out and wait a while.

I know tax lien investing is more of an advanced strategy so I went in only targeting a couple properties, but I wasnt even in the ballpark.

That depends on the target tenant in your area.

Easier said than done, I know, but that's where the real deals are -- not when they're known to the general public or investor community.

I think one of the reasons has to do with the proximity to LA and SD, it's just a couple of hours drive, which makes travel easier for large groups. 

Either way, I was advised by the lender that if the building are side by side there is a possibility to regard them as commercial.The point is, that it is easier to add value by increasing NOI when property is appraised by  it’s income.