The cooper piping had been extracted from every place imaginable and it suffered from a stench of mold so strong that it greeted your nose intimately as soon as the front door was opened. 

That said, expect to deal with a fair amount of fluff leads.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting.

Any concerns about being spread thin or not going deep within a single market to fully extract the value from a deal?

That said, expect to deal with a fair amount of fluff leads.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting.

The issue is that after a high LTV refinance to extract the value add, the property is large cash flow negative.  

However if I do a BRRRR I can achieve infinite return by extracting all of my investment.

The reality is coastal CA has provided outstanding cash flow for the long term hold who does not refinance to extract equity.  

My questions are many... but the main ones are a) how would an unemployed person like me extract my ex-'s share of equity to get them out of the property?

That is where generally the most value is extracted for price and terms when you buy.So even if you get a 3 days or 1 week jump on the competition doing it yourself then 1 purchase could get you a big payday.

If I had to choose, I would always prefer cold calling over texting for this approach.The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting.