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.  

I've had several over the years and it never worked out.With that said, I haven't had one in this neighborhood and @Ryan Mullin knows these older neighborhoods very well.I still prefer not so old [post 1945] built SFH in outlying areas myself.