Start with Craigslist, local newspaper, and even MLS.

The coolest thing I found was a box of old newspapers enclosed under a set of stairs, and the paper face up on top was from May 13, 1960...

I've found and sold deals in various ways including craigslist, local pennysaver newspapers, direct mail campaigns, asking local mailmen, plumbers, yard workers, etc. for referrals in exchange for referral fees if I make a sale. 

This section was so big it took about a quarter of the whole newspaper.

But I would like to suggest that the reason most RE investors do best locally is because they see and recognize the increased activity with their own eyes and read about local changes that impact neighborhoods or areas in the local newspaper...or before, which is why local officials often own prime property when roads are announced.

Don't underestimate the power of the internet. 3) Know everything you can about your market through online resources (county website, local newspaper), local investors, real estate agents, etc. 4) Learn about the different financing options and requirements for each.

You can purchase lists with different motivations like absentee owners, 60-90-120 days late on mortgage, pre-foreclosure, delinquent taxes, water cutoff, code violation, evictions, probate, divorce, etc. and mail or cold call.Other methods are driving for dollars, door knocking, wholesalers, craigslist, Realtors, FSBO sites, expired listings, put out bandit signs, billboards, newspapers, other offline publications.You can use pay per click/adwords, motivated seller website with SEO, facebook, Linkedin, Youtube, and other forms of online and social media marketing.If you have a big budget you can do radio, TV and billboards.

great job that's more than most doso you got it under contract-FSBO, Craigslist, newspaper, Facebook, any and all media you can use to get it soldevery real estate agency near youtime is of the essence or youll be in hot waterif your not working on getting it sold right now then you may need to let this one go and set your self up a exit strategy before you get another onejust sayingreat job on getting out there and getting a contract!!

I haven't had any issues because I aggressively market on craigslist, zillow, trulia, MLS, the newspaper, yard signs and I've built a relationship with our local HUD/Section 8.  

I call this the "SWEAT OPTION".The sweat option works well if you have the ability to do the repairs yourself.Your key's in making a deal like this are:You need to know the basics of real estate investingYou need the forms to make this happenYou need to know the market areaYou need to know the laws in your stateYou need to know how to determine the value of the subject propertyYou need to know how to do a title searchMost importantly you need to know how to find sellers that are motivated enough to work with you on this strategy of investing.I recommend that you farm out your market area looking for properties that are what we call in the industry FSBO's (For Sale by Owner).Go to your local library and start your research by looking at old newspapers starting with newspapers that are 90 days old and work your way through the FSBO's section making a list of possible deals.