I would like to converse with the owner on cost, process, hassle, lessons learned, etc but only the agent is at the open house.  

I walk into the house with my binder of all my needed contracts and if we come to an agreement I fill out the contract right then and there.

There are a couple of FB groups with thousands of members for this market, with wholesalers posting houses all day long. 

We've also had a number of people relocating to the area reach out and say that they would prefer a furnished unit while they looked for a more permanent housing solution (often purchasing a home). 

I'm in St louis, but the house is just across the river in Illinois.I've spoken directly to a few brokers.

She gave me a very vague list of work completed with numbers ("dent to woodwork $," "Paint, $," "Hardwood scratched $" etc), but I cannot match any work done in the house with the list.

Hi Chris -  My company specializes in helping homeowners navigate state housing regulations.If your life circumstances change and you move out before 3 yrs is up, you will not be penalized.

Out of curiosity how much gross do you make over the landlord's rent arbitraging the property like this?

He was upside down, house become unlivable and he moved out.

For example, a “base hit” single family house I bought off the MLS 6 years ago cost me 100k.