@Jill Barrett start networking with other investors in the UP here on BP via search feature.Ask/pay an agent to generate a list of all the houses in an area you define have sold for cash in the last 12 months - pretty good sign an investor bought it.

You can check out the NBOA website for one list of groups that are quite active. 

I use LandVision, but you can also use Propstream, etc and build lists of parcels in the markets you are looking, and then you skip trace the owners, call them/mail them, etc.

In the request for order of possession, where is lists the cost in this proceeding, can I add the current and future two months' rent, plus additional costs including court, mileage and hotel stays ect.

Our target was $1.4M, we listed for $1.57M, we sold it in 16 days for $1.52M.

Quote from @Kieran Dowling: There are too many forms, checklists, or letters to list here.

Gave that list to her property manager in March this year & he just smirk at me.

Some of these other options you listed are decisions based on how you want to live and how you feel about having strangers in your primary house and aren't something we can tell you to do. 

We only accept good funds (money order/cashier's check) for the initial payment, and then we do electronic once the relationship has been established.

The YouTube gurus make it sound like it’s as easy as picking up a property over the counter and selling it on Craigs List.