Where we’re having difficulties is in getting in touch with these owners and we are looking for suggestions as to the most cost-effective method of tracking down phone numbers for these absentee owners?

Starting out you're going to take a beating on the terms because you don't have a relationship yet but if the numbers work then them making an extra couple grand doesn't matter 

Put them in an apartment & got an extra $275/month.

I rent the Tahoe home to friends and family but don’t stress about cash flow from it; I bought it as a getaway for my family and any extra money is icing.

., the difficulty is that we all want others to succeed so inspiring them in itself is not a bad thing and not BP's "fault".It's just human nature I guess. 

In this case, I will educate and offer some fumigation to help them overcome their difficulties offering treatment and instruction flyers.

I renovated them and had them rented out earlier this year and am enjoying 300-400 dollars per month extra cash flow.

In February I left my W2 job as an Air Force officer (extra info: one of my duplexes is using a VA mortgage).  

Inventory is low and because of my other business and obligations, I don't have the time to invest into yellow letter marketing or other methods that require a lot of extra time.

The extra bathroom for the kid entering their teenage years (1 hour per morning in the bathroom = needs own bathroom), shorter commute for your wife (happy wife = happy life), bigger yard for your dog, you get the idea.