Is there some other way to access tax information?

The terms on most commercial lending I have found are 5-year term on interest rate (readjusted every 5) and 20-year amortization.  

It is in fact very easy and profitable if you are smart about it and manage risk well.My advice is to start off looking for deals for a wholesaler so you have access to their expertise and analysis.

The other options are find someone with access to the MLS as tax records can be pulled through there or you can sign up for a Property Radar account (they offer a free trial).

The most important thing is access to real comps.

You could go with a commercial lender, but you'd most likely be looking at higher rates and fees, and shorter terms.

Looking for information on commercial properties and potential tenants in the East Bay. 

Are you looking for single family, multifamily or commercial?

I had fancy UC Berkeley online library access, so I did what anyone in that position would do and read all the peer reviewed academic literature on bed bugs written by people with Ph.D after their name (including pre-modern remedies that worked & still work), and over the course of a few months eliminated the infestation myself - chemical free.

@Christian Wamsley you will have access to shop properties online while you are overseas, but this would just be to keep an eye on the market.