I’m too millennial for phone calls, but another deal has popped up closer to home that I’m investigating now, so this one is on the back burner.

Boy is it fun to bring back a thread like this from the dead - look back over the last twelve months and see that rents popped something like 20% in the Inland Empire  - people got both cash flow and a whole lotta appreciation.As for the next twelve months - who knows. . .

They are indeed a big and successful company and may not be able to provide the level of service that some mom and pop landlords can, however I've gotten to know them over the past few months and they seem like good people. 

I think in the end we end up having to tolerate more because I can't pop over and ask for rent or fix something NOW.

., More like mom and pop or held under regular title.then proceed to get in touch with those owners - direct mail, knock, etc and offer to buy their property  and flip forward....repeat process...

Many just wash out in sink water every month or so and can be popped back in.Renters sometimes steal sleeve and window units when they move out and claim all sorts of wild reasons why they are missing. 

  (2)Look at the MLS a couple of times per day, when something pops on that might interest you, have your realtor make an offer, then go see the property.

Yes, I like my job and love real estate and it is hard as hell to strike a balance sometimes.At my time of retirement I should have 31 doors (one for each day of the month) and every year post retirement should have a property POP (mortgage paid off) and boost my income. 

Is a mom and pop multifamily investor more likely to sell their off-market property if a buyer is already in place?

I think consistency is key with checking the MLS and be able to crunch #s and make decisions quickly...quite exciting to have finally popped that cherry.