Where do I begin?

[Elijah Lytle]

I have been reading books on flipping houses and feel like I'm spinning my wheels. I would like to get a house at a great price for a greater rate of return. This will be my first fix and flip so I want it to be as smooth as possible. I see all these houses at auction and at fantastic prices. They almost seem "to real to be true". So how do I get my hands on one of these? What info do I need before bidding on one? What are the steps to take to get a gra deal and not lose my pants?  Please help.