This got me thinking, most every "Deal Analysis" spreadsheet accounts for Vacancy and Maintenance as a percentage of the income generated.  

Either I need to find them myself or find them from a wholesaler.Any property that is marketed, either on the MLS or Craigslist, is going to generate competition and make it less likely a deal.  

What areas do you plan on farming and how do you plan on generating leads?

Unfortunately that is the challenge with buying Multi Family via Non Performing Notes - if the property was generating cash the borrower would have done a modification already.  

(A) A landlord who is a party to a rental agreement shall do all of the following:(1) Comply with the requirements of all applicable building, housing, health, and safety codes that materially affect health and safety;(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;(3) Keep all common areas of the premises in a safe and sanitary condition;(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning fixtures and appliances, and elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord;(5) When the landlord is a party to any rental agreements that cover four or more dwelling units in the same structure, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of a dwelling unit, and arrange for their removal;(6) Supply running water, reasonable amounts of hot water, and reasonable heat at all times, except where the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose, or the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant and supplied by a direct public utility connection;(7) Not abuse the right of access conferred by division (B) of section 5321.05 of the Revised Code;(8) Except in the case of emergency or if it is impracticable to do so, give the tenant reasonable notice of the landlord's intent to enter and enter only at reasonable times.

That’s right the dream man, or woman you thought you were getting to know is actually a computer generated picture, or one stolen from elsewhere on the internet.

Like I said, the properties are generating income that mostly cover the mortgages, so he's not hurting that bad.  

(naturally, through their own innovation and critical mass - not through twisting your or someone else's arm).

I'm not sure that anyone has really come up with a way to truly identify "vacant" houses, but the list was pretty clean and did generate some calls in a limited 3-mailing test I ran a while back.

Most of my 40+ properties are in the 30-70k and generate good returns but have quite some turnover or deferred maintenance as the houses are usually 90 years old.