I think being plenty paranoid is a good thing here.Research this guy as thoroughly as you can online.

I typically look into the property tax and transfer records, which are all online to see what the property is currently assessed at.

I have a duplex under contract that I anticipated paying $3,300 in annual property taxes (using the Indiana online property tax estimator), but they came in at $2,650...so maybe its already designated as a rental property?

Multifamily ownership and management is a whole new ball game. 

And now you and your partner have skin in the game. 

So best case scenario, any existing IRS lien should be clear 120 days after that - and worst case they would be cleared 120 days after the last weekend in June (Ada County auction) - or I guess 10 days after that since that is when you're supposed to actually get the tax deed (I think I saw that was the timeline in ID).4) State specific - FL the mortgage is wiped out and all liens (excluding municipality liens)That is my understanding here too... seems to make the process much less scary than I've heard it being discussed so I think that's what's making me second guess myself on a number of things.5) No they're giving you a "tax-deed" - see my recently purchased tax-deed below (it may look a bit different after the county officially enters it in their systems which happens around 10 days afterward in FL).That makes more sense to me, the thing that is causing me to second guess myself is the terms of sale I am looking at online for the auction: QUITCLAIM DEEDS • A Quitclaim Deed will be issued and recorded by the Ada County Treasurer. • The Quitclaim Deed will convey only such title as is vested in the County of Ada under the tax deed process according to Idaho law.A tax deed seems like it would be more ideal than a quitclaim deed, but maybe that's just their way of saying, "If someone sent a notification letter to the wrong address and we missed, you get to deal with it now, not us."  6) it depends on how your state does their tax-deeds if it has an online system you can literally see the mailings that have occurred and you'll know if the proper procedures were taken. 

So if you plan on holding the note it can be lucrative and worthwhile but if your end game is to sell the note your better off selling the house at a reduced price.Also if you carry the note make sure you use a licensed 3rd party servicer as many note investors shy away from notes which are self serviced

So, they invest nothing in agents, and make them fight it out like the Hunger Games.

Soak up info and formulate a game plan.

There's a reason wholesalers get a bad reputation - and it's not because they are making a profit without having skin in the game or don't have a license - it's usually because they move crappy deals, or they hang their clients out to dry when the deal goes bad, or they sell to people who really shouldn't be getting involved in the deal because they are not capable of handling the deal.Also - there's not one single definition of what "wholesaling" is.