Which method has worked best for everyone to find the best deals?

[Mark Millich]

I'm networking with real estate agents and also browsing the MLS daily. These are probably the two most common forms of property hunting, but it seems difficult to find the best deals using these methods. I recently began browsing Craigslist and have found what appears to be some decent deals. However, with limited information on each posting, it has me questioning their legitimacy. Because I don't live in the best area for real estate investment, I'm looking to invest in the Pittsburgh, PA area and all surrounding areas where the market is cheaper. I've found some decent properties in Mckeesport for very low prices, but the area is absolutely terrible and labeled as one of the worst areas to live in in Pennsylvania. Because I'm investing out of state (I live in WV), I don't often get the chance to check out some of the properties that appear to be "good deals" unfortunately.

Having said that, my question is which method has worked best for everyone to find the best deals? MLS, driving for dollars, direct mail marketing, etc.