Birmingham seems to have a bit more inventory but this is getting more and more competitive and sooner or later will be just like the rest of them if it isn't already.  

PDX is fun but very very competitive ..

I figured that any help given would be helping the competition.

They price the money at the highest market rate or sale price they can and still stay in competition with other sources of money at that given point.

I will still have them bid my jobs, in the hopes that they will be competitive, and for comparison though.  

Typical problems getting full powers relate to problems getting bonded or conflicts between competiting claimants.I've been involved with plenty of cases where the PR's never DID get Letters and left a mess for me to happily clean up (for a price). 

Look at what others in your market with similar units are doing and do whatever it takes to be competitive.  

If you're not in a competitive market (not many other investors), then postcards may work well.  

Those are your options as I see them, and it will be challenging any way you slice it, as it always is in a competitive market like ours.Now for the silver lining ... once you gain the skills, experience, and capital to operate profitably in this market, the world is your oyster ... strong supply and demand cut both ways and that which is difficult to buy tends to rent or sell easily and appreciate over the long haul due to those same supply and demand forces, so just because it is difficult doesn't mean you shouldn't do it as most worth while things are difficult.

Thirdly, you could have a separate "solar electricity fee" each month, so the rent listed on your ad is competitive with neighboring listings.