I analyzed "Distress Signals" in a top Sunbelt market. Here is what I found.

I built a workflow to monitor state-level regulatory enforcement logs (HVAC & Mechanical). I’m tracking "Compliance Fatigue"—the moment an owner gets hit with fines, probations, or disciplinary orders. I just pulled the logs for Q3/Q4. Here is the segmentation for "Off-Market" acquisition targets: 1. The "Admin Fatigue" (Most Volume): Owners fined $1k-$2k for "Expired Licenses" or "Late Renewals." These aren't bad operators; they are just tired of the admin burden. They are prime for a transition to a searcher with strong Ops. 2. The "Combative Owner" (Medium Volume): Operators with "Refusal to Allow Inspection" violations. They are fighting the regulators. They are frustrated. They want out. 3. The "Deep Distress" (Most Rare): I found 2 cases of licenses revoked due to "Owner Imprisonment." These are likely immediate "Fire Sale" asset acquisitions (trucks, client lists) available for pennies on the dollar. I’m releasing a Sample of the top 5 most distressed operators from this week's batch to validate the data structure. If you are an HVAC/MEP searcher and want to see the quality of these signals, drop me a comment or DM.