I have spent the time researching through Biggerpockets how to market rentals and screen for tenants.

So I have done a fair amount of research on the forums here and elsewhere as well.Generally speaking, it’s common practice to provide a “preferred return” to your investors.

Both my wife and I are wanting to get involved with Real estate, I have been researching areas, listening to podcasts, and reading books to expand my knowledge.

Everything that I've researched about talking to potential sellers seems to fall into one of two categories - 1) how to talk to motivated sellers who are contacting you based off of your marketing or they were referred to you, or 2) how to talk to absentee owners (people who own the property you're interested in but they live somewhere else) that you're cold calling.

However, the more research I do, the more it seems that when you really need the funds, it is likely to come in some black swan event by which access to credit is limited. 

I would still use this website: https://adtech.dailyjournal.com/legalAds/ to research new probate files at this courthouse in LA county: http://www.lacourt.org/courthouse/info/laAnd to research new probate files in Orange county I would go to this courthouse:http://www.occourts.org/index.htmlFor marketing I would focus and mail to PR's that live outside of CA (GA, N.J., WY, FL, TX, etc.,) as they would be more motivated to sell.To be honest it wouldn't take 1 month to close a deal.But I have enough on my plate here in N.

After doing some research I have a feeling I’m not going to get the answer I want to hear but I’m looking to buy first rental (duplex) in Philadelphia.

My research has found across several real estate platforms (Zillow and Redfin) that the estimated value is actually somewhere around $105000-110000. 

This can be verified with just a little research.  

We learned a lot about what we shouldn't do.Currently my job is in clinical research and involves a lot of travel.