Lease purchasing (rent-to-own) puts pre-qualified, reliable tenant/buyers in now-vacant properties.

Why would ANYONE sell a reliable $6,000 a year "income" for only $40,000? 

Thats what I was getting at Elizabeth, if you had any suggestions for an inexpensive but reliable credit and background check you would recommend.

Let us know if you find a more reliable service and I will post if I do.

I could make money at .5% but making money by acquiring property via tax certificates seems impossible at .03%.What has been your experience or can you point to any reliable sources on the subject?

I tried looking for a decent one on FilePlace but hard to know what's a reliable one for CA.

Figure out what you could reliably make investing that elsewhere with minimal risk and give that some weight.  

I have a handful of reliable folks that are potential investors that have specifically said over the past few months "let me know if you need an investor". 

. - I want to continue to employ our reliable handyman team (30 yrs with my father), but the repairs on the rentals won't be enough to keep them busy.

Once you establish relationships with reliable contractors and thy see that you follow through when they do, and you pay them on time, you become a higher priority.