I advocate that all investors should understand this process, and should be able to identify at least the "low hanging fruit" - mortgages and municipal liens.

Additionally, the arrival of the Mediterranean fruit fly obliterated the large citrus industry.

There is opportunity here, but the days of picking the low hanging fruit are long gone.  

our state is a little different, too, and the local assessor is actually not privy to sales data, non disclosure state, and for some reason has no access to multiple listing, so they rely on surveys and some programs, so they tend to be under the market a bit...they also work off a January date,,so they don't reflect changes in the year like an appraisal, which may be part of the gap...and some areas may just not have many sales, be it commercial, raw land in an area, etc... 

While clients that begin the process with us and go A-Z, no matter the type of project, streamline/limited or full/standard have a smoother and fruitful experience and are able to enjoy the house they have worked with us to convert into a home.  

This was basically proven to be true when I visited the property and the fridge was stocked full of beer, wine, cheese, fruits, etc.

I could understand if it was a new development or raw land....none of the closings i've been to have required a survey by either the title or lender.  

Maybe alot of newer investors are getting kids out of law school because they work cheap, maybe some use the Board of Realtors attorney (very conservative minds) but I suggest you get the meanest, smartest, winningest attorney in your area, maybe with political capital, someone who chews on raw meat for breakfast and loves to win....and pay them, they are worth the difference.

I do know that he is not currently an investor, but he is interested in purchasing raw land and building new houses to rent out on new lots.

But that wasnt' very fruitful.