And that was for the news crew to observe of course - more "made for TV".

I will mostly observe and learn everything on my own in parallel through the usual resources (podcast, biggerpockets, etc.).Great to another fellow O&G engineer.

That extra cost "went away" btw...I'm posting as an observer looking at both sides thinking it's a good lesson for everyone to either carefully choose a VERY trustworthy agent to tend to one's business OOS or meticulously monitor the work being done. 

28269, I was observing this area a lot and noticed just that, decent prices but the homes are crammed with each other in okay neighborhoods.

Your initial offer should have taken into account any items that would have been observable during your walkthrough, as well as any items the seller disclosed in advance.

A couple observations about that sales venue:(1) Most of the houses I have observed there have seller‘s reserves.

So, no tax advice here simply observation. 

I found that time and observing helped me feel comfortable with the process and that I wasn't "missing something".  

Be cognizant of values.Preview, if you can, all houses that are scheduled for trustee sale or drive to the house take pictures and preview the neighborhood.Attend 50 Foreclosures Auctions at the court house, add information to your journal, observe bidders (when they bid, how often, where do they stand, to they talk to the trustee or auctioneer) always listen and take notes, retain a copy of the auction and the foreclosure notice, estimate the final hammer price to see how close you were to guessing it.Meet others at the F/C auction, collect cards.

But you made a good observation.