I had just closed on my 9th property (using conventional financing) earlier in the month when I gave my notice. 

I start looking for new tenants 60 days before lease expires.New tenants can give their  previous tenants 30 day notice and we can keep our vacancy % as close to zero as possible.

Also, has anyone noticed that many of these bulk buyer groups are outside of the state, region, and even the country?

If you bring value to the forums and blogs, people will take notice.  

The MLS will not only help you get immediate notice of houses for sale, it will more than likely give you sold info so you can get more accurate values.4.  

Go pay them a visit and drop off a three day notice while you are there.

Shoot, I just noticed that the mortgage I put down would be if the purchase price was brought down to 160k. 

Try to put it on the side of the house where it will be less noticeable. 

One thing I have noticed is that as you get better, start doing your own deals, and become more experienced you will start doing things differently or better; and when you look back and think of your first deals there may be things you will realize you could have done differently.

This is just plain stupid from my part and this is the lesson i will remember for the rest of my lifeEstimating the rehab correctly: If you follow my blog you will notice that i am pretty much a big picture guy and lean toward mindset rather than actually technical detail and application.