Of course buying HUDs is an option but be choosy because you may find a GREAT house in a not so great area.BANK and ESPECIALLY local Credit Union foreclosures are a dream, as owner occupied you can negotiate repairs, new wood flooring, HVAC units can be installed and cost added to the purchase price banks will add New Appliance packages and even BLINDS for all the windows.  

That is what they make their offers based off of, not just blind low balling to try and get a better deal.

I'm nervous and very scared it's my first deal but I feel like I may be walking in this with a blind fold.

I noticed across literally across the street was a completely vacant house, with a boarded up front door and windows covered in blinds, shades, and newspapers.I did a quick parcel search in my county and found the owner lives not too too far away.

If you have a bit of money to start with I suggest you use that to get a good mentor as opposed to blindly buying your first property.

But I don't want to go into anything blind, and my knowledge of the real estate business is next to nothing at I'm here to learn as much as I can before I get my feet wet.

Wall wash with TSP prior to painting if possible,, if the ceilings are flat (not popcorn) wash also, a sponge mop with a towel over it works great and fast..2 buckets one wash one rinse.you wash everything,, doors, trim, floors, cabinets, light fixtures, all windows glass and tracks.Bleach is ok to use but I've found that TSP is best thing to actually REMOVE the nicotine,, you'll be shocked when you see how well it works. 2 Prime, Kilz primer to seal anything your going to paint.3 Remove all blinds, throw them away the plastic retains the odor and they'll be gross anyway.4 Air Ducts if you can reach inside wash out.. then spray Kilz in them as far as you can reach with the system off.  

Sorry to be so blunt, but I don't want you to go in blindly...and you would be.  

It probably covers 15-20 quick comp evaluations, and I simply don't make blind ridiculously low offers, the exceptions being HUD, or FHA which just get thrown into a computer in 5 minutes and no real agent is on the other side, which would damage my reputation with other agents.

Car washes have so many moving parts, and walking in blind would be VERY tricky.