I find that stuff built pre 1900 or so is tougher to work on - stairs are too narrow or don't have the right tread/riser ratio, ceilings are short, floors are pitched, massive fireplaces (again, think New England here - cold winters), etc.Old in your market may only be 20 years though! 

The only sticking point for the larger properties (3-4 units) is they're not nearly as plentiful as SFR's, so sometimes adding an off-market deal finding strategy like cold calling all 3-4 unit owners in the market's you're looking to buy in, is a way to help you keep moving forward if there isn't much inventory on the MLS.Good luck!

OK so  .. hmm how to put this nicely...I can't..People .. don't tell others: "the best" or "a Good" way to find deals is "Driving for dollars", Cold Calling", Door knocking" Hand written letters.These methods are horrible..

Driving for dollars, cold outreach, going to wholesalers for "off market" deals, & tax/foreclosures are a great one as well.In an expensive area, if you're living there, you need a place to live.

@Charley C. most likely brokers are using a direct mail campaign coupled with cold calling.

Everyone there would be upset they wasted a drive to court house (usually held outside in the cold - sometimes indoors). 

All you have to say to avoid lawsuits is "sorry unfortunately we have decided to not move forward with offering a tenancy agreement" and then dont reply if they press you for a reason

That buyer got cold feet so we went with a backup buyer who kept it tied up for another month only to not perform.

After a few days of cold calling, we are getting about 30% saying it's a wrong number. 

New rules below:https://www.sec.gov/news/press...I'm sure there are others here that can advise you, so I'm commenting to get you some traction on your post, too!