I have not closed a deal yet and my first driving for dollars session is tomorrow for 2 hours.

You should come out to a local REIA session and chat with some folks who can get into the specifics of what you're looking for.  

I may be wrong but I feel that house prices will be less expensive in the Fall/ Winter months since most people are settled in school being in session and thinking about the holidays and not home shopping/ buying.

If not, stop by one of the (probate) courtrooms while they are not in session and ask the clerk inside the courtroom on which paperwork you can find info about whether the decedent owned property.

@Tommy Sessions there's deals but few and far between.

Yesterday Saturday 30th August at 9 am I attended the Flipping Formula free investor session at a local hotel.

Have training session before that.

I have been very happy with Anderson Advisors in establishing my entity structures for buy and hold rentals and getting me started with a Solo 401(k), and they offer a free initial strategy session that may be helpful for you.I am just a happy customer and am not affiliated with Anderson Advisors. www.andersonadvisors.com

Local landlord training sessions are great too to understand why the language is the way it is.  

The free session was tempting.