If you have some negotiation skills and simi-cooperative tenants/residents, you can often accomplish it quicker and cheaper by using your wits.

I personally don't like the idea of tenants doing 90% of repairs/improvements because you don't know the skill level of the tenant.

I started out marketing directly to estate reps after first honing my skills as an investor in foreclosure and other distressed real estate BEFORE tackling probate. 

I agree with Pierce as to his appraisal techniques, but your negotiation skills are not a value that reduces a lender's risk, if you could buy it at that price does that mean that no one else could buy it at that price if it went to a foreclosure auction?

Being personable and mastering negotiation skills can set you apart and help you close deals that the big guys couldn't.

I think you are onto your best thinking when you seek to partner with investors to offer your skill set. 

If you look at their nano bot project and Ray Kurzweil's predictions, you will see that we are roughly 10 years away from curing cancer/old age with nano bots.Overall, I believe that the boomers are already causing a shortage of supply which is already a large driver in the market.

As you fine tune your rehab estimating and project management skills each flip after this one should get easier.  

You want the terms.like home warranty,  appliances, closing cost, seller financing....etc.negotiating is a skill that everybody has to WIN in the game. 

The degree and work experience helped me to be able to asses the structural condition of a house, and gave me great analytical skills (but my spelling sucks).