Yes the lead disclosure is for pre-1978 construction; the reason you do this is to comply with Federal laws (even though it may make you feel like you reduce liability also).I would only allow a licensed agent to have the code for any lockbox that is on a property - I would not give that code to just anybody who just observes the sign on the street.

Would an experienced flipper be interested in a deal where my wife and I provide the money and the flipper provides the knowledge and (lots of) the hustle while we observe?

If they aren't interested Ivey decided to just observe this auction and see what happens.

I have been informed and can observe that the roof and exterior has been updated recently.  

I've observed out of state markets through some investor friends and just fell out of escrow in New Jersey.

I will take the advice, observations and recommendations of each of you to heart. 

That's the market I observe im sure some other places are still good.

What Klaus S. said at WEF is not some war-campaign slogan upon the masses, it's was an observation, and one of an opportunity, one that in their eyes is an opportunity.

It also seems that many of the newer residential properties built past 2-3 years enjoyed a minimum10%+ annual price appreciation over the past 1.5 year.. can't complain but the days of trying to "pick the bottom" in both asking price and mortgage rate is long gone.Any other thoughts/observation?

I kind of feel like there are five levels for a real estate investor: observer, accidental / inherit, dabbler, serious, transformational.