I am wide open to suggestions, comments and criticisms, so if you have any, by all means let me know.   

I've purchased small (20 inch wide) gas ranges and (11 cubic foot) refrigerators from Lowes. 

Falling somewhere in the middle of 600k and 30k is a wide range.    

Real estate is an integrated systemDemographics are the driver of most economic trends (I believe the evidence supports this, though this isn't the widely favored view) The baby boomers are retiring and spending lessStimulus spending can't fix a demographic problemThat said, I was at a conference in Boston last month with the Dave Lindahl Group who runs the largest multifamily real estate group in the US.

Bill, it sounds like you've been thinking plenty about it and considering it from numerous angles.

@Dale Stevens Personal takes on my angle are more than welcome.

We find them "off-market" via a wide range of online and traditional marketing methods.  

Sometimes the door is left wide open late at night.  

I've spent the better part of the last year diving deep into books, podcasts and local meetings to try and learn various angles of investing.  

I actually use craigslist as my primary lead source too, but I cast an incredibly wide net because I have to to get consistent deal flow.