Hre are the key things to knowWhat you are bidding on - often oddball properties that are hard to identify and have little value are auctioned offThe true as is value of the property, The tax assessment can be way higher or way lower than the true as is valueThe local laws and how they affet your total costs and returns

There are cases of local governments delaying payment due to budget constraints.

I was able to join the local Facebook pages for investors that are local to my area. 

Quote from @Kyle Carter: The comps that come from local real estate agents will be the best for this one.

It would be local for you.  

You can also search for local FB groups that specialize in longer term stays.

With that in mind, my first idea was to buy a condo or a house in my local area (Palm Springs, CA) and use it as a long term rental. 

I saw an example recently in Bloomberg about how local regulations can really shape a landlord’s experience, from what I’ve heard.

Add thoughtful touches like a Keurig or French press, USB chargers, and local travel guides.

I think the moral to the story is always do your own research & utilize places like your local real estate investor associations where there’s a wealth of knowledge for free, without the costs associated with a program like this.