Most tax sale auctions and tax liens take a higher priority in most states than the foreclosure itself but you should examine state and local laws first before proceeding.If the property was in Louisiana then:1) After visiting the property, taking multiple photos looking for activity on the land, asking neighbors where owner is and inspecting outside of building (from street) for condemnation damage, I decide to buy after my survey.2) In Louisiana, I would buy the property at tax sale auction, bid as low as 20% and get my foot in the door with a tax title.3) I would send a copy of my new tax title along with a Post Tax Sale notice to all lien holders on record in the Clerk of Courts for the Louisiana property as per RS 47:2156 with certified letter.

No matter how much you examine a deal there is always a chance you miss something, but you want it to be a small miss and not a bad deal breaker.

@Julie Doke  lender was asking for an Alta policy... title company that has to insure boundrys with an alta policy... lot and block they take the risk on but if a title examiner had questions they could ask for the property to be surveyed in order to issue the alta policyIN my lending days I ALWAYS required an Alta policy but it was rare that the title insurer requested a survey unless it was a multi million dollar transaction or loan that they were insuring.

hello, I am a non-US resident and I wonder if I can take the realtor examination and get the realtor license?

Mitch,All of those are great points to really take a look at (and will begin to examine them when I find my next prospect).

Another inspector came out to examine the finished project.

Once you've established a relationship with a contractor, he might be willing to do a quick walk-through and give you a ballpark, but doing a real rehab estimate takes time, and even there, there are a lot of things you cant discover about a house in even an hour or two of examining it.Also, just a note...if you call a reputable contractor like me, get realistic advice, take up hours of their time, then hire a couple of no-overhead guys working out of their truck because they're 10% cheaper and made a bunch of promises they'll never keep....well, karma knows you did that ****. :)

It the tenant takes the option at the higher price you make the spread between the prices, less costs of your transactions.The option may then expire and your subject to conditions then expire as well.I suggest you closely examine the option.

Since then, I was a submariner in the US Navy, worked for the State Department, and now I am working for the State of Texas as a bank examiner. 

There are many other highly qualified people and programs out there that I would suggest people examine before turning to Nate Kennedy!