Essentially, you drive around looking for uninhabited homes or rundown ones, look up the tax records free on the town/county website, craft a letter with your intent to purchase the home, and mail the owner directly.

Inspector states it appears from the outside that the dryer and/or bathrooms may vent into the attic space and not to outside; Vents for this are currently too few and the wrong type. 

I also find myself in this predicament but I will tell you that I wouldn't recommend essentially buying sight unseen, and if you put in an offer most LA's if they accept it will allow you to "view the property" I would just make sure you have some outs like if you find the property is in dire need of repairs and then the tenant leaves you may find yourself with an expensive rehab.

Meaning you rent out some of the rooms or apartments and essentially live for free while investing the delta.

The main work was to gut both bathrooms and create a 3rd master suite.

So this would require a chunk of change (20% at least) down plus I would still be an occupant so I couldn't rent out my room.I am looking at 2+ bedrooms 2+bathrooms in grade A areas like Canton, Fells Point, etc.

He is coming in with the down payment but doesn't want his name on the loan so I am essentially raising the funds with the promise of the equity split when we do a cash out refi.

This is essentially locking them into the sale, in the future. 

Purchase price: $729,000 Cash invested: $250,000 Sale price: $1,550,000 We performed the following renovations prior to selling the house:-Converted an open dining room into a 4th bedroom creating 2 closets and french doors-Renovated the kitchen and master bathroom including moving water lines and venting-Installed a beam creating an open archway-Covered the fireplace and installed custom cabinets in the living room-Built a patio with pavers and a pergola-Removed concrete patio and installed sod-Installed can lighting -Carpentry -Paint

Essentially, we're not farmers and have no desire to spend all day in the field.