Contracting off market deals, foreclosures, pre-foreclosures

[Tyler J Sabin]

Hey Everyone,

I'm new here and am looking at picking up my next property sometime in the next year depending on how the market shakes out. I've bought my first duplex through a very conventional means and have been managing it myself for a year now. I'm seeking practical advice on what type of person I would need to help me if I would be interested in purchasing off market deals, or for instance a pre-foreclosure or foreclosure from the bank? Do you still go through a real estate agent or do you need your own real estate attorney to draw up the contracts and everything? Who are the key people I should be talking to locally to begin looking into this; i.e title companies, realtors, real estate attorneys, etc? Thanks 

Tyler