The best REI club in Bakersfield is organized as a meetup group.

I don't know if this can be done in larger cities like Toronto and Edmonton, but tax rolls are public records.

I want to start a real estate investing company for this organization that doesn't have the typical restrictions associated with 501(c) (3) designations that come with buying or receiving real estate. 

You can see marital records, property records, pretty much any court related record online for free.

Having worked so long in massive organizations where career progression has more to do with superiority than it has to do with job performance, I've noticed my own work ethic slowly slipping away.  

I sent a letter to the address in the appraiser record.

If you are really adamant about looking up REO, then I am sure you can get a list of foreclosures from a place like list source and follow the foreclosure process through the court records and then figure out which bank ends up owning the properties....

Lots of moving parts in your prospective opportunity.Obviously, you'll need to know the numbers and determine whether pursuing an Ohio property from A-Town makes any practical sense.Here's the rough format I use: PETIOProperty - need to know after repaired value and rough costs to repairEquity - need to determine all outstanding mortgages and liens of recordTitle - research record owner(s)Interest(s) - need to research, identify and contact all persons who have beneficial interest in Decedent's estate as heirsOpportunities - Determine best way to acquire or profit from the situation.

They can use a little more common sense in these types of situations (your education level, your track record, your income, etc) and lend on that basis.

Probably should modify that to an experienced and successful investor with a proven track record!