Zombie foreclosures and abandoned properties

[Connie Knight]

I am trying to get started in real estate investing in Vero Beach, FL.  I have found several properties that were foreclosed upon 1-2 years ago by a bank, but the deed is still in the default owner's name.  Also, there are quite a few that have just been abandoned by owners with no actions against them.  Possibly they owned the house and passed away or just left town.  In both cases, the properties are run down and overgrown, often having code violations filed against them.  Has anyone dealt with these kinds of scenarios?