I am able to purchase a monthly subscription so I can access all records online, but I would rather physically go there to familiarize my self with the available records first. 

The physical and visual structure of the website (conversion elements) play a huge role.

I'm actually no longer in the area physically, so REIA's are a bit of a challenge now.I've done comparisons for properties on Craigslist, Hotpads, Rentometer and previous history.

I look forward to your favorable consideration to my inquiry as to what may well be a mutually beneficial opportunity for both of us.        

I had a great podcast guest David Pelligrinelli from titlesearch.com discuss in amazing detail the process and the importance of getting the physical documents not the online docs...

In the end, I wanted to diversify between stocks and physical.

It could well be that the problem is the potential buyers.  

I have no exposure to real estate what so ever, well except for my house and a few REIT's that I own but not to physical investment real estate and I want to get into the long term rental property business and hoping to learn and grow here!

You could leave your house and have a drink in your hand at Viva in 10-15 minutes but the house may as well be in Africa.

If you are genuinely understanding they will sense that and you may very well be the first person with a credible offer that is also respectful of their situation.