Finding Deals out of Market

[Scott Taylor]

How do most people find deals out of market?

I'm aware of online methods - zillows, trulia, and craigslist.  But otherwise (aside from having a scout in that city) - how do most people find deals when they are out of state?  Should you look for a real estate agent in the city to find you deals?

Also, when contacting real estate agents representing the seller (from an online source) - what are the pros/cons of contacting the non-primary agent on the deal? I currently have one property I've run the numbers for and it's been very interesting, but I'm not sure on possible rehab costs. The primary listing agent hasn't been responsive to phone calls. Should I assume it's off the market? Is there a way to access MLS data without being a real estate agent? Does Zillows / Trulia have all properties on their site that are on the MLS?