They are well established and have low vacancy rate so I used 5% but it should be more like 2% according to what they told me. 1% for Cap Ex because all the major stuff is new.  2% for mnx cost which probably is a low ball %. 

Or is it better to try to find records at the county courthouse, or start contacting banks for their REO departments? 

Initially,  I thought the home was an investment but it quickly turned into a major liability. 

Which do you think you should spend the majority of your time on?

be very cautious as you vette them.. but you should be able to get into leveraged deals were your consistently making 50 to 100% or more on your cash.. do that for enough years then start to peel into cash flow units once you have a few hundred grand saved up and you just use a little of that... and or invest with a group and buy repositioning properties that have major upside.. don't get bogged down buying small rentals that have no upside its just way to slow of a way for someone like you to get to where you want to be if your smart enough at 25 to be knocking down 135k a year ) that puts you in the top 3% of all wage earners already... keep focused on that.. remember RE is just not that easy to duplicate those numbers without serious value add..those at buy smaller rentals are looking for a 10 to 30 year plan... and they plan on keeping their day job...

After a few months of school and work here in Fairbanks, AK, I'm finally able to invest the majority of my time finding and making deals in the Salt Lake area. 

Even if it is the smoothest divorce ever we find that they almost always need to sell them home.Absentee owners are also good but the majority of the people in your area are also probably looking at them as well.

We currently are providing majority of our services to a company who made a bulk reo purchase here in the suburbs of Cleveland and they are happy with their progress in our market thus far.

Current home value $400k Amount owed $333k (28years left)PITI $2000/monthWill rent for $2500No major repairs needed.

I am not opposed to making some needed improvements, but don't want to take on a major rehab now.