The goal is to get something at $.60-$.70 on the dollar.So what are some tips and tricks in finding something? 

The trick in dale city is to analyze each neighborhood separately, there seems to be a lot of variability.  

Sometimes people might also use a transactional real estate attorney who draws up deeds and drafts residential financing documents.The trick is to not spend $400 an hour for a paralegal to fill in blanks but to have someone who is worth $400 an hour if you need them.

Haven't had to go all the way yet because the cash for keys agreement has done the trick for me.Cheers!

One trick I've used is to lease to cat owners, less risk of this happening once the lease is signed.  

The IRS is likely to consider it a trick to slide an otherwise prohibited property into a 1031.

We find scheduling everyone (unknown to them) at the same time for viewing a rental, does the trick... 3,6,10 people looking at a house will get people pulling our agents aside offering to pay higher rents if they get the house. 

If you want to be aggressive, find a way to trick the tenant into saying he has vacated. 

I'm also wondering if there are any tricks to cost-savings on small (apartment-sized) kitchens?

That normally does the trick!