So far all of the guides I've found just say to use the tax assessor's website to find the info but don't offer any instruction on where to find it exactly.

I can tell you right now that you don't - and that they don't all come in the box with the pretty parts that you see once it's all installed.You can certainly learn these things, but don't try to wing it without some instruction of some sort, for your own sake. 

There is a very instructive thread about this on Bogleheads:Bogleheads ThreadI had similar issues and you really need to speak with your tax professional.  

Probably 1/2 the learning was from the instructors and other participants experiences. 

When I started out back in the late 80's I would get the prospective section 8 tenant the list of VA repo's that my realtor would provide, with instructions to prospective tenant to find a place off the list.

Seal up any openings that are allowing them to enter the home, and spread rat poison in the house.Here are some instructions from the CDCGet used to disgusting and nasty conditions – they are par for the course when you are renovating homes.

No one buys more than 3 houses a year in the same state or sells them, unless an estate is liquidated.....I can see a few exceptions.Similar to an RE agent's license, test required, continued education like every 5 years, no annual fees or gotcha stuff like Realtors, but it would certainly add structure, ethics, RE law and it might put a few gurus out of business, but it would also add RE instructors.

I'm pretty sure I read the most up to date instructions for 2011.

That usually gets them back to the negotiating table.I've had attorneys heckle me with messages that so and so instructed me to call them and my favorite recent comments was "you are prohibited from contacting my client to discuss terms of sale".

Also, if it's not reset EXACTLY as in the instructions, it may render the lock useless.