@albert @Albert Yamoah 1) to filter out the real buyers from the tire kickers 2) if I were a wholesaler I would have non-refundable deposit too especially in this climate where cash is available and deals are at a premium.

From my vantage point, market fluctuations for land tend to lag behind home prices, particularly in today's climate and there's still value in desirable locations where homes are priced out.  

Part of that was the climate we were in (i.e. during the bust) but part of it was lack of experience and lack of a historical model.5 or 6 years later these same banks have seen me grow from 4 or 5 houses to 32.

Hi All, I searched this topic and nothing has been posted re: this exact subject, except 3 years ago.I don't have a kindle, and Amazon has many newly published books that would have more current info in this climate, but I would like a book I can download to my laptop or is the most recommended and current to this current market.Any suggestions for a step by step process?

I am out of LA for most of the summer (it's when I travel to my colder climate markets and do repairs/flips), but come fall, I'll be rolling strong!

I was hoping someone who has been in this market longer and is more experienced than I could give some insight on the current market climate here.Is my best bet to start trying to find deals from off market opportunities by driving for dollars and yellow letter type campaigns?

Really depends on what kind of climate you want also.

Some other qualitative factors include weather or climate impacting maintenance costs - pipes freezing in northern climates, hail storms in Dallas, flooding in Houston, Air Conditioners in Phoenix. 

Because the political climate is unstable, to say the least. 

Many of those published before the crash are classics - Think and Grow Rich, etc.Some, however, published before or around the crash, do not reflect the current legal and economic climates.