How do I scale more efficiently?

Ideally, we'd be zeroed in on one or two neighborhoods, but with the travel, we've decided to remain flexible and keep an eye on one or two in each town.The ultimate goal is, of course, to quit the day job in 2 years and do this full time, allowing us to focus on one town in order to make things more efficient. 

Seller was extremely motivated and property was distressed but in a good location.

I'm constantly working on trying to keep myself motivated in my professional real estate career.

The seller is motivated.

Are there any more efficient ways to find these people?

Your rentals qualify if you are treating it as a business with a profit motive.

That motivation is the primary driver for good investment returns, not "mutual" or "fraternal" or any other nonsense.In an IUL the insurance company takes the money they earn investing in those identical assets, and they go to the index options markets with the simple goal of hedging to capture as much movement in the market as they can get with the money the have to spend.

To be as efficient as possible, I'll schedule calls for my lunch hour or go to the gym to PT for a call....I also take the metro (subway) into the pentagon each day. 

What did they find out in this 6-week timespan (12/23/2019 up to today's date of 2/7/2020) which motivates them to take a $200,000 loss?