This is really the best way at the moment to get them and not pay through the nose.In terms of divorces and other distressed homeowners you may want to look into Listsource, or something like propstream.I hope this helps!

Neither of my multis are cash flowing cows but they are solid and should the market drop I will continue to get full rent from them because they are beautiful apartments.

For me by trusting God has a plan for me and knowing that I have come to far in my life to be left how i am at this moment.

ARV: 290k (She had it appraised 2 years ago may have changed now) Owes: 197k (167 on first mortgage, 30 on second) It is currently set to go to Bank Auction on Tuesday - her attorney has advised her to come to the courthouse and file bankruptcy (which she will withdraw later in the week) to get the proceedings on the house stopped for the moment. 

Think that through for a moment.  

Butte's market is in a pretty good spot at the moment.

You have zero equity the moment you start, and zero equity when you get to the balloon payment.You are simply delaying the day of reckoning when you have to buy the property for a short term gain in cash flow and tax loss.

You can try reaching out to @Brian Schmelzlen who is an excellent choice in San Diego, though you may find CPAs a bit busy at the moment with the upcoming 9/15 and 10/15 tax deadlines.

I'm in the same position at the moment and Im interested hearing more about your experience so I'm going to send you a PM about that.

I'm currently looking for more single and multi-families at the moment so there will come a point when I just have too many to handle on my own and then I would like to hand it off.