I think that'd be a great strategy since you'd get the lower interest rate and less closing costs.

Anything they lower it is a win for you. 

The Cali shift partly translates to lower income leaving and higher incomes replacing them.

@Susie Ramsey  Generally if you can show your YTD income is getting higher you should be okay to proceed with income and you have reason for lower income in last year which can be explained by LOX.

So if you’re one of those people who won’t do a 1500 claim when a tree falls on your fence, why pay for the lower deductible?

First, they are usually non-financeable though conventional means, so the demand is lower and thus the price is significantly lower as well.

Motivated sellers (there are always a few in any market who need to sell and move) would have to lower their asking price to find a buyer who is able to make an offer.https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/affordability-index.aspWith regards to finding the local opportunity areas, the seasoned investors there said they followed the cement trucks to the job sites.

Full re-pipe and re-wire, full sheetrock downstairs (ceilings too), upstairs just new texture, all doors replaced, all cabinets replaced (upper and lower), all new flooring (enigineered wood, tile and carpet upstairs), etc. 

If it's for a fix and flip or fix and hold to rent, then yes you can use a HML and then refinance out to a traditional lender with lower rates and longer terms.

Additionally, they may have fallen behind on remodeling and deferred repairs so they will be expecting lower offers.