@Neisa Adams Usually you look at the property (I bring my contractor on the initial showing because if he says no to a property then the deal is dead in the water to me) then you decide if you’re making an offer, then after your offer has been accepted you get an inspection done and once the inspection report comes in you get your estimates.

Every step from out of state is tougher - finding that great deal, usually off market, with exactly the right amount of distress (not too much, not too little.) 

When its your lawyer against an army of insurance company lawyers that do this all day, best to not even get into that fight to begin with and do some simple extra protection. 

As easy as this sounds, it's not simple and usually like pulling teeth.

Then I usually get about 30 inquiries and maybe 8 people fill out my application and usually 5-6 come to see the unit.

Those things usually aren't in books. lol. 

Incentizes the listing agent to find a buyer and the seller to accept it.I think on a different thread, it was mentioned that agents will just go about it "business as usual." 

The auction usually occurs 45 days or so following the Final Judgment, which will also be recorded, and shows a sale date.  

How do these scenarios usually end up?

@Mark Cruse and @Nathan Gesner are right on track, as usual....People are all too happy to rain on your parade, especially when they have failed themselves....misery loves company...It's kinda like verifying that they couldn't make it and therefore no one can.