Next Step in buying a foreclosure

[FRANK JELONEK]

As a new investor, I purchased J. Scott's book on "flipping houses", great information.  I am in Chapter 4 and found the area I want to purchase and found several pre-foreclosures and foreclosures.  Most are auction single family homes that I can afford.  My question is;  how to go to the next step?  Contact a realtor, go to Auctions.com, or contact owners?  Want to start by buying my first foreclosure.