You can find properties by driving for dollars, mailing owners, getting lists of code violation, evictions, property management companies, networking, etc but the most effective method is cold calling the owners directly.

It's an alternative but VERY effective form of house hacking.

It's not about you though, it's the motive and rationalization of the alleged perpetrator at that exact moment that is at issue.There's a lot to be said for cultivating and maintaining the very best tenants possible, as you would your team of contractors, agents, attorney, CPA, lenders... 

A professional letter written on company letterhead is way more effective when dealing with commercial and multifamily owners as they are usually investors themselves.

If you maintain some form of presence in Canada and, more importantly, you are planning to return here, you should be able to invest in Canada without the complicated tax scenarios.

That low priced Midwestern property is not low GRM directly because of location & demand, but a secondary effect because of the low prices those cause.

I always felt that folks don't maintain and upgrade their homes around there, not just from personal experience, but even when I look at Albany-Schenectady listings today (when I want to get a sense of where the market is, we still wouldn't mind unloading our last SFH!).

It allows us to effectively grow your asset base on a tax deferred basis, similar to the way a 401k allows you to grow your asset base on a pre-tax basis, if that makes sense.If you don't have a gain on the property, you could still be liable for depreciation take back taxes because since the property has been depreciating over time.Anyway, I think we've all belabored this topic extensively and hope that we were able to help the original poster with their question :)

But that's the laws where I live and your mileage may vary.If I wanted the change to go into effect immediately, I would need the tenant to agree with and sign the lease amendment. 

How would this type of sale effect the seller in terms of taxes?