I do not believe that any city in the midwest would have the cash flow of a San Diego purchase from 20 years ago (excluding having extracted out equity via a refi - every investor probably has extracted value).It is important to distinguish initial cash flow from actual cash flow. 

Like all fossil fuels, it’s a finite resource that gets more expensive to extract as the resource dwindles, compared to the sun which is always shining.

You can have a VA extract the data, but you will have to train them on how to do so.I have not used any of the services you mentioned, but I do know some people that use successorsdata and seem to like it.

I suspect extracting your investment out which could be possible via BRRRR could benefit you. 

This rent drop makes the OP's situation different from usual, holding out for the previous rent in a depressed rent economy may be unrealistic, and trying to extract it from the lease breaker may also be unrealistic in the current situation. 

Some people want to do a cashout refi to extract the equity from the property to use the cash to buy 1 or more properties.

The challenge is that I know we have this equity in this home yet I need to extract it so that we can buy first, then sell existing.

When searching probate lists online, which records should I be looking to extract, letter of testamentary, or any other specific type of records?

Just so I understand, in a market where ARV's can be much much higher than purchase prices, it is not always ideal to extract the full 70% of ARV.

Most hotels will simply never be conducive to being a multifamily and most larger cities will extract a pound of flesh in the process.