I have a friend who purchased an empty lot a few years ago, developed plans for around 200 apartments to be built, but didn't have the resources to cover the construction/interest costs until revenue could be generated. 

You can then develop your own plan not simply take random suggestions from strangers on line.

I am a developer and investor.

That, and developing a relationship with the lender or the rep you work with at that institution really helps.

@Josh Huber - many of the new construction developers I know of do not build to hold, they build to sell to an investor. 

Were you ever able to find a way to make identifying properties on these lists easier?

Driving for dollars (or my favorite walking for dollars) is a way to learn to identify potential feals in your area.

Now if I am able to reduce the expenses to say 50%, by replacing resident management and staff with external property management, the property will cash flow nicely.However here lies the rub: in order to maintain the Section 8 subsidies there is apparently a budget which gets submitted to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which accounts for all these expenses in their calculation of the Section 8 subsidies.

Let us know what you are trying to achieve, that should help us help you develop buying criteria.

I have a 10 Step Guide available for download in the FilePlace and Step #1 is Identify Your Purpose and Set Your Goals.