Try to find something in the 200k range and rent it for 1500 a month.

If you cannot locate good comps, stay in the same radius, but increase the sold date range.

I can also get a general range by looking at the starting bid and then watching the bid increments through the auction once it starts.  

If the rental rates are higher in the area you're considering, it's a good bet there is more demand there than inventory.  

And most of them are way out of my price range so I would just stick to the NW, SW and oildale if you are looking for a cheaper investment.

Start looking for all cash deals, hard money, or cash-out refi from you current inventory to allow an all cash offer.

There are a couple of prospects but not a lot on the market in the neighborhood and price range I'm interested in.

Not most of them, as they simply raise the cost basis of your "inventory" and get deducted when you sell.  

If you buy with llc , you already in rent control it doesnt matter what number of units you own, But current rents on those buildings are actually ok for DC, Issues are the buildings where rents are in $500-$600 range..

I'd probably offer around 40k range for it to make sense as rental or owner finance deal.