If they express interest, tell them the sales price and give them 14 days to come back with a pre-approval letter and offer.

what are good characteristics (filter options) or what is the best way to structure a pre-foreclosure list for the SoCal Market?  

How does the equity from the pre foreclosure work in the deal?

I am looking to obtain pre-approval so I can start really searching for my first deal.

I am in the process of trying to get pre-approval to purchase a rental property.

I was not pre-approved based on me working part-time which is understandable.

Obtain a pre-approval letter from a lender so you know what your price point you qualify for.If you haven't already, be as specific as possible with your criteria for properties.

A lender usually wants two paychecks to verify income but there are ways to get pre approved just off the offer letter.3.

While all of the screening process is important, the credit score is the first and primary thing I look at, and seems anecdotally across hundreds of interactions I've had with landlords to be the single best determinant of whether the relationship will work out. 

I initially thought I would start off by house hacking a multi-family house in NJ, but I’m not sure that will work out right now due to the crazy market and my income.