The description leaves me guessing if the properties are really flipped or not. 

Your wife can likely qualify for the REPS status, based on your description.

I'm finding the challenge is accumulating / managing information about properties (title / liens / ARV / neighborhood / description / condition /etc, etc, etc) coupled with the high rate of adjournments shortly before the auctions.

You then find a buyer who fits description above or a retail Buyer who would pay in cash using private loan etc   for $350,000...

Instead of placing motivated seller at the bottom of the listing description.

A very small percentage of sellers fit this description. 

Hi Jim,Thanks for the thorough description and information.

I have met a few that started with very little and built their empire over time. 

However, I'm having zero luck with my commercial fitting the above description.

Same exact description as the "2-4 apartment stone mason" you mentioned.The previous owner got rejected for a use permit, so he used the building  illegally as a duplex.