(being it is in pre-foreclosure) the POSTPONED est. opening bid for it is at $67,500.My question is of course I would like to call my friend and ask about his house (which I will probably still do) and maybe hash it out with him on a deal but that would kinda of be awkward being in pre-foreclosure phase and me asking him to buy his house right or not?  

I cannot justify myself to spend around $500 for title research when I might not be able to inspect inside a property, auction sales might get postponed or canceled, or I might not even win a bid.My take from all the great advices so far is that most experienced bidders do title research themselves.

I'm more versed in California than in other states but, in California, the following would be considered acts of a foreclosure consultant (Number 3 is where all of those "Subject to" gurus get nailed):(a) “Foreclosure consultant” means any person who makes any solicitation, representation, or offer to any owner to perform for compensation or who, for compensation, performs any service which the person in any manner represents will in any manner do any of the following:(1) Stop or postpone the foreclosure sale. (2) Obtain any forbearance from any beneficiary or mortgagee.(3) Assist the owner to exercise the right of reinstatement provided in Section 2924c.(4) Obtain any extension of the period within which the owner may reinstate his or her obligation.(5) Obtain any waiver of an acceleration clause contained in any promissory note or contract secured by a deed of trust or mortgage on a residence in foreclosure or contained that deed of trust or mortgage.(6) Assist the owner to obtain a loan or advance of funds.(7) Avoid or ameliorate the impairment of the owner’s credit resulting from the recording of a notice of default or the conduct of a foreclosure sale.(8) Save the owner’s residence from foreclosure.(9) Assist the owner in obtaining from the beneficiary, mortgagee, trustee under a power of sale, or counsel for the beneficiary, mortgagee, or trustee, the remaining proceeds from the foreclosure sale of the owner’s residence.

Chances are high the property will postpone or cancel. 

I tried to postpone viewing his properties to the following week, but he said either we see the houses now, or the deal falls through.

I’ve seen too many bad investments made, limiting choices incurred, enjoyment postponed, and common sense abandoned, all in the pursuit of avoiding a 15 or 20% tax, which in years past would have been happily paid to avoid the 90% maximum tax rate in effect prior to 1961.The other part of the myth goes like this: I’m an investor interested in acquiring the property of an older investor but the older investor doesn’t want to sell to me on my terms because he doesn’t want to pay the taxes that would be so.

The auctioneer may have postponed the sale one or more times and people end up unsure of when the next scheduled sale date is (Always call before sale to make sure the sale is on, or, to make sure an updated sale date has been posted/scheduled).

If you have a sale date fast approaching, yeah, needs to be brought current or, the lender has to agree to postpone the sale (They don't have to postpone).

Owner-financing does not postpone the date of sale.

Depending on your judge they will most likely postpone it until the next week for you to gather the paperwork.