I prefer to leverage more because I'm young and hope that I am around for a long time. 

Selling after a few years is certainly an option, but I'd really prefer to hold & rent.

yes, HUD is notoriusly slow, just like anything else with the government, and they do prefer owner/ occupant sales over investors. there are many other creative ways to find and buy real estate. i use HUD for one resource only...... to find other houses. vacant houses are like deer at night, where there is one, there is another. i look up a HUD house, go to see it and then take a tour of the neighborhood. i would almost guarantee you that there will be another vacant house in that same neighborhood. i have personally bought a couple of houses simply by going to look at a HUD house

Everyone has different preferences though, but definitely know it can work!

What I need is someone in the US, preferably in my area of interest that I can send the letter to by email, have them print it out and post it to a short list of addresses.

i am mark from buffalo new york. welcome to BP. you will find lots of help here in your mission to success. as you can see from my profile, i am an investor. i prefer the flip houses as opposed to rentals but i do have one rental. i am also a home inspector and recently a furnace technician too. i would be happy to meet up with you sometime and introduce you to the buffalo market is you are interested. just let me know.   

You need to find a realtor-preferably someone who is investment minded.

And my kids, as you can see, clearly prefer Heather...

I personally prefer the Louisville rent comps.

They also offer investments in other parts of the capital stack like mezzanine loans or preferred equity as well.