You need to hire an agent in NJ that specializes in short sale transactions and has experience with this!

I would greatly appreciate any guidance or experiences you can share to help me make an informed decision.

Will just complicate things from our experience.

My long-term goal is to build a portfolio of multifamily rentals while also working as an agent helping investors scale their portfolios.Your experience sounds incredible!

Quote from @Shaun Ortiz: Hi Jason,Thanks for sharing your journey—it sounds like you’ve gained some invaluable insights from your experiences, even with the squirrel tenants (that’s definitely a story!).

I would try to tie those experiences and skill sets to your REI path.  

I would have been told by someone about index services (with correct hours) before spending $40 in postage to overnight something to Springfield.Hope my experience helps a fellow investor.

I am newbie in real estate and I don't have much experience in real estate. 

and am eager to connect with experienced investors to gain practical insights.What I’m Looking For:Advice on identifying cash-flowing properties and understanding market trends in Lynchburg or similar areas.Recommendations for a local real estate agent or property manager with experience working with investors.Insights on how to balance active and passive investing as I grow my portfolio.I’m grateful to be part of such an inspiring and knowledgeable community.

In my experience in MO, land bank properties are very low priced (these are generally properties/parcels that weren't sold at the tax auction), but they often have significant tax liens on them that must be cleared in addition to the "sale price" AND they require a significant amount of rehab in order for the properties to be inhabitable.