A handwritten note is nice but a knock on the door is even better if you have thick skin.

Zillow, Hotpads, MLS, Craigslist, and walk around the neighborhoods you are targeting and knock on doors."

How can I find out if the properties are occupied without knocking on the door or peeking in the windows? 

Knock on wood, I think it came out nicely.

Drive the neighborhood, look at the available properties for sale, and don't be afraid to even knock some doors on your future neighbors and ask them their thoughts on the area.If you have a particular property in mind, let me know and I'll run the numbers on it and let you know my thoughts.

It generally takes longer to get approved, which has the knock-on effect of making it harder to get the BARGAIN that you're also looking for (because "desperate" Sellers want quick-cash-buyers). 2.

I knocked (I dont know why) and someone said "one minute".

I have a Time Warner cable sales rep that is often visiting my apartment buildings knocking on doors and leaving his flyers on doors which ends up all over the halls and parking lot.  

Not just reading books and listening to podcasts, but networking, knocking on doors, beating the streets for the right opportunities.

She can show properties, if needed, and I can knock a little off of her rent for the help.I handle everything else from Texas.