During the process, your strategy may shift and change, that is normal. 

You will have months where you sell zero houses, so living "paycheck to paycheck" is automatically ruled out as an option that is otherwise available to W2 salary type Americans.I've literally never done a down payment assistance program for a Realtor.

The limit to the number of times they can foreclose and get an automatic stay is 3 within a 12 month period. 

They can hook you up with automatic updates and help you understand your local market.

Should I just automatically write these off or is there some alternate way I don't know about to find out what the insides of these homes look like?

What I suggest is that you contact a few realtors and pick one that you like and get on an automatic notification several months prior to your next visit.

It was simple, it said in every day language what I wanted, and what they needed. all the other stuff was negotiated and hand written to the satisfaction to all.I made more changes in my contract that was PRO-ME as an investor; A full profit disclosure was inserted,(this is a protective statement that made it clear what the meeting of minds were between buyer and seller just in case there is ever a legal issue) Delaying clauses (this is an insurance clause against running out of time to settle or failure to assign or sell), A release/non commitment contingency, (a clause that lets me out of a contract ethically if I am unable to assign my contract) Marketing hybrid, rights with cooperative expenses',(this is an informal profit sharing with the seller or estate) Automatic time extension, (creating more time when needed, a protective clause that can save deals when necessary to use)Knowledge of market value is important, so I created a national real estate comparable and information service, named IURealist This is a great service that helps me our friends find needed comp information on properties.

So, in August 2014 they notify (automatic reminder to catch up with the fees), but in October the same 2014 and after - nothing.

If you want increased cash flow, work to aggressively pay down the existing mortgage on the other property rather than shift equity from one house to the next.

Not only do you have the days off to get an advantage over the other W-2 9-5ers looking for deals,  but the firefighter shift is great time to analyze deals and grow your knowledge during those lulls waiting for that jolt from the fire tones.