If you feel like contacting the owner regardless of what the county tells you then it's your choice. 

It also may be they're just at the size of deal where they're too big for small developers but too small for larger developers. 

This is leading me to look at larger commercial apartment buildings and I've been studying on the topic of syndication. 

My wife has contacted some of the larger banks.

Had they been realistic to start they would have had time to properly set 3 quality choices.

Lastly, having a larger monthly cash flow, especially on your first property, will make it easier to build up a cushion in your rental account for unforseen large repairs or vacancy.I'l quickly touch on an angle I've used while acquiring rental properties, especially those in poor condition or those where the price is already reasonable for what it is.

However, recently I'm beginning to see more options and better choices.

Larger ones?

Also, be careful of the scam where they send you a larger check and you deduct the monies and return the rest.....BOOM their check bounces and they already have your cash too,

Opinions on going with a local firm or larger, national firms?