Finding Good Deals on Investment Properties

[Jonathan Edmund]

So I'm actively looking for a property to be my first investment property. I'm looking for something either that needs work and I can get under value or someone in financial trouble that I can get a good deal from. Having access to the MLS, I'm not finding good deals on there which I'm not surprised by.

My question is: What are some creative ways that investors use to find great deals on homes? I sign up for a pre foreclosure list but none of the phone numbers work. I want to find deals before others do and use some creative ways to do so. I'm just having a real tough time finding a good deal. I want to start owning rental properties as well as doing flips but I can't find anything where the numbers really make sense.

Any ideas?