@Athol Dickson FCI wont board a note for an individual.  

That's probably the only negative I see to the owner being in a foreclosure situation--and if it's not a short sale, you won't have to worry about that (on the flip side, he or she will probably be motivated to accept any offer that they get, so that bodes well, but you may be, or may already be, competing with other offers).Things I would be curious to know about: are all of the utilities separate?

I've even noticed that some have it in an auto-responder when the offer is submitted.I see it as a way to make you compete against your own offer.

As investors in competative markets, we have to find cost efficient ways to get the phone ringing.

From my experience, there are always going to be individuals who just want to see what kind of offer they can squeeze out of investors who are touting hard money for their houses.

I am Craig, I am an aspiring individual looking at real estate as one method to achieve certain life goals. 

WHY because as hardmoney lenders they have more control over there capital.I have been one over the last 30 years my last shop was 35 million so we were not tiny but we were not SEattle funding either.. more on the line of East side or vestus.Borrowers just don't jump ship for 1% or a little cheaper.. they will stick with who will allow them to scale.so when I want to do a 100% deal for one of my long time borrowers no problem. your not going to be able to compete.. the day of 20% plus rates are gone of course.But the portals all want to make 14 to 18% apr just like the HML companies.Can you take market share no doubt but you will have to build it just like I built my companies excellent customer service and flexibility.. right now the Portals like RS have very stringent underwriting they cannot compete with many of the local guys in this market that have 10 to 30 mil to lend. and there is only so much hard money demand in a given market as we know.Vestus and East side get a lot of their business by providing capital to buy at courthouse steps this is highly complicated and lots of moving parts your portals will no way be able to compete at that level.Were I can see a portal doing well though is with bigger funding deals that the HML won't take on.. like larger credit type lines etc we have had some interest from portals for this.. and its not at all competition with the local guys.

We recently joined a local REIA and would like to meet other like minded individuals in our area. 

Have you had your purchase agreement , mortgage and lease reviewed by a competent attorney that specializes in such matters?

Live readings on an individual water device are not cost effective in most cases.