Usually what happens is you work your butt off scouring every possible source for deals, and just as you're ready to throw in the towel and put an application in at McD's, one falls in your lap.I'm completely serious.

. - there was no roof work done- the bank had done a new roof- we did change the siding however it was an ugly blue color when we first bought.Kevin-Thanks so much- I'll post before pictures as soon as possible- rehab took exactly 5 months- yesterday was 5 months to the day that we bought it- Longer than it should have taken.Justin- As far as the whole realtors license will have my uncle look into if he wants to pursue that- I'm not able to do that due to my current employer.Raj- I'm located in PG county maryland.Zak- Thanks for the comments.Stinson- Yes houses are usually sold with a fridge in maryland- The applicance I actually got them at a 4th of july sale so I bought the whole set including microwave for $2300Tim- Thanks for the comment- I scoured mls for the property, its also in a neighborhood we knew as I lived there years ago and my uncle and I also have a few rental properties in the same subdivision- I'm an MLS junkie- I look on it morning, night and while at work.

About 50% of stuff on Realty Trac is out dated or incorrect.That is not the place to go to look for deals.The pre-foreclosure data the property showing is either under contract as a short sale,the owner did a trial loan mod,the owner has a permanent loan mod,or they filed bankruptcy,or are doing a DIL (deed in lue of) back to the bank.Properties showing in foreclosure might have already sold or not even be listed yet.All Realty Trac is for is to take your money in monthly fees for ACCESS to information that has little value.You want REO's the SECOND they are listed and hit the system.For that you want a broker/agent scouring looking for the deals.You as a home buyer looking for the deals so are thousands of others.When a deal comes along you have to act fast or you will lose out.Good Luck

BP, So I'm scouring the landscape for cash buyers in the area and I figured the I'd call all the "for rent" signs in town, but how can I tell if the landlord bought the property with cash or not? 

Mostly because I've been scouring the MLS looking for deals or checking on our current rehab houses any spare moment I have.But, I'd like to take a moment and share my story and progress in hopes to encourage some of the younger or newer investors to take action!

Having scoured numerous threads I thought it would be wise for me to actually join and try and soak up all the incredible information this place has to offer.

I've scoured the foreclosure listings for my county, and other online sources, and don't seem to get how to turn these listings into offers and ultimately close a deal.  

So I'm still on the hunt, but acknowledge it will take more work than just scouring MLS to find the deals.

I am willing to provide the property manager's company in a private message but I'd rather not publish his name on the forum just in case this person is scouring these message boards (I know it is unlikely but I'm a little paranoid about the situation).

Hours of scouring through the net couldn't have given me better information. looks like I've got some work to do.