i just received this "potential lead" minutes ago  ( Providence, Rhode Island), its a 2 building property, one unit is a 3 family and the other one, one family, he tells me that in the 1 family we cannot go in an see because he has a tenant under section 8 and is going thru the eviction with the court. the other 3 unit house is vacant due to renovation he was working on it and seems to stop. told me hes not desperate to sell bu, but i know my fellow Dominicans lol, hes a avoiding a low blow from me on the price.im looking to see if i should wholesale this to a landlord, seller finance (he owns free and clear) or hard money lending so i can fix and hold. wow!

See this was where I can say I was in desperation mode.  

Everybody will have their defense mechanism up, although you could just work 250-300 leads and get the desperate one.  

I'm desperate to find commercial property in my area (1031 exchange timer is ticking down) and every time I find one that looks promising I run the numbers and it fails without offering what would be a much lower price.

Cons - you don't know who opens their mail, and they may be desperately trying to keep a separation between church and state (work and non-work life).

It would not be desperate properties. 

Just another option, depends on how desperate you are to get a deal.

The deal you describe gives me the picture of a desperate handyman.

In desperate need of help.

But if the seller is desperate and seeking a solution - and that solution involves selling his/her property at a steep discount, so be it.