(Zip codes etc.)There are two things that I've done and the later is the best IMO:You can use Find Comps now to find recent cash deals in the area that you are looking to do business and it can give you at the very least, Who purchased a property in that area, How Much the paid for the property (not always accurate or available) You can then cross reference it the information with your county website, however, then you must find the contact information via other internet searches, although the info on the county site will provide at the very least the mailing address for the person or company who purchased the property.IF you have access to the MLS (or have an agent that you are working with, you can then run a search for a property you have and look how the property was purchased (Cash, Traditional or other 203b etc.) if i'm not mistaken you can strictly do a search for all cash transactions in a certain area/zip code. 

At this point it would make more sense for the seller to use a traditional realtor.

I'd like to roll over some of my traditional ira into a self directed one. 

Like a dozen homemade chocolate cookies just call or get a free or low cost lottery ticket (proceeds to a church donation),  Meanwhile you get is a chance to meet them, ask for biz or referral and go from there.  

I have cash for a down payment but I don't think I have the credit to secure a traditional loan from a bank. 

Based on my research Frogtown would traditionally be classified as a C- or D+ property, in the last 2-3 years some community and religious groups have been fighting to improve the area.

Also we know that the purchase price must be higher then the sale price to a void taxes but for the difference could you just use traditional financing options?

Finally, because most REITs are publicly traded, they have traditionally experienced substantial volatility along with the stock market.

Investors are all about numbers and are easier to work with and execute faster than your traditional home buyer wanting to fall in love with their first home, for example. 

Seeing that most college graduates leave school with a mountain of debt versus their income from their employment I was wondering if anybody has had any luck securing traditional financing with a high student debt to income ratio?