@Chris Low Tesla investment in the Reno area is a part of what is being billed as the 'largest industrial park in in the world' RENO TRICIt's likely to bring mostly skilled and unskilled labor jobs needing B- to C- housing.Take a look at this article from the Reno newspaper regarding the housing shortage RGJ ArticleThere is opportunity in my opinion.  

Snow yes - high grass and newspapers and mail piling up are other indicators - Now as an investors looking to capture some equity -- what do you need to do now?

I've never ran accross this type of issue, but I'm thinking an ad for x number of days in legal newspaper and if no one claims the interest then they are written off?

I made that deal directly with a seller-who found me in a $79 newspaper ad which I placed for 7 days.That ad produced a few more wholesale deals and people began taking me seriously in the business.  

The roof is ok for now, but is a re-roof job and the shingles are starting to "telegraph".

I use Craigslist, the newspaper, as well as just googling other random websites on the web to see what I can dig up ..

A search for OWC, or owner will carry, say on Craigslist or the local newspaper, is how these deals are still found.  

Just to give you a few steps to help make sense out of it:1) Homeowner decides they cannot keep up with the payments and wants to sell but they owe more than it is worth.2) Homeowner calls bank and asks if they can sell for less than worth3) Bank says "no" you made the last payment you can do it.4) Homeowner gets behind on payments enough to make bank decide to tell them to get a BPO.5) Agent looks at house and gives a price opinion and contacts bank6) Property gets marketed on MLS and signage/newspaper ads etc7) Offer comes in8) Owner accepts whatever the offer is because if it closes they don't get foreclosed on9) Bank gets signed offer and sends it to their groups to look at and decide if they like the deal (can take months)10) Bank comes back and says "not enough"11) Repeat steps 7-10 until bank says "yes"12) Begin closing processThis of course ignores the hardship documentation that has to be submitted etc.

Take a quick picture of the front page of the local newspaper, including the date, for reference, then take tons of pictures.Deduct fairly, but make sure you cover your expenses.

I have posted my ad on Craigslist but I was also wondering if it's worthwhile to post in the penny saver and newspaper just to reach different clientele .