We do alot of marketing here at my company, and although we do Direct Mail, I would say it could use some work. 

This will open the door for you to negotiate with the seller in a more direct sense but the agent still have the duty to disclose.

Just want to know what's more effective as far as using direct mail, or handwritten letters.

Just like shopping for cars, like I always tell others that are buying houses, yet I don't apply the same logic to my own situation, lol.  

I spoke to them today and was told their REO department was shut down and they don't know who to direct me to regarding their REO's on res.net.  

If there is an illegal in law, the SFH is considered a two unit in San Francisco and rent control applies. 

I have found crowdfunding to be a far more effective (and passive) alternative to direct RE investing for me in the US, and am migrating my US holdings in that direction. 

Can I put a clause in that I would make payments directly to the bank?  

Any direction for this would be greatly appreciated!

The issue is that flip transactions are considered a trade or business activity, and if a tax exempt entity like an IRA engages in a business on a regular or repeated basis, then there is a tax known as UBIT that applies to the gains from such business income.