If you have a lender letter to go along with your offer and you utilize that to get an offer accepted, but you have no intention of closing it that way, then can't close, you did something shady and people will remember.  

Once you accept the trial, just enter the city and state where you want to find the pre foreclosures ( defaulted properties) and the lists comes up with all of the properties current info.

If you find comparable properties with similar square footage, features, bedrooms/bathrooms that are renting for a price that you find acceptable as an investor, then the investment to improve your property might be worth it.

I know of a few investors who have bought properties by calling the local banks directly, establishing an informal relationship, and buying direct.6-Non-performing notes prior to auction-- I personally have had success, and know of other investors who have been able to contact the banks PRIOR  to the foreclosure sale, make an offer, and get it accepted.  

Market the deals you are working on across your social media platforms, blogs, BP and if they are good deals, good money will find them.  

For example, I look for properties I can rent out with some rehab; a flipper who plans to do a total rehab would not care much that the current kitchen/bath can be acceptable for a rental, they would gut to studs anyway and replace.

It will also keep your Social Security number private.

I thought the deal was dead, but the offer was actually accepted about a week later.

Probably the fact that they thinking out the hundreds of deals that have to write at 65% of Arv and the fact most investors are flipping contracts and failing to close on the occasional deal they do get accepted

Find, buy as residence and live in, fix, then after a year rent out... that's acceptable for government money.