Also, I’m exploring options for covering the remaining balance if the purchase price exceeds the assumable mortgage.

Welcome to the BiggerPockets Community!  

Hello, my name is Jeremy, and I am a new real estate investor and property manager, with a growing presence in the industry.

What is the best way to find and approach people who are not necessarily selling at the moment and make them consider a sale?

I rented a 4-bed house in Royal Oak, then got 3 roommates that I charged each 30% of the rent, so they covered most of my  rent.You can do the same if you buy a house:1) More rooms the better, if renting to fellow college students.2) Can YOU live in the basement?

Most serious and qualified tenants are searching on the major 3rd party platforms you mentioned + realtor.com, redfin, and a few others.Apartments.com & homes.com are owned by the same company and may offer some additional marketing options.Another strategy to consider here is social media - video marketing.

I am putting it up on Facebook, Craigslist, etc. but is there anything else a newbie can utilize that you have found success with?

Here are a few suggestions on how you can maximize the wealth of information available: Check out the blogs and podcasts, or take advantage of the search feature (magnifying glass).

It comes down to your goal for the property.

Welcome to TN, the water is warm.