While my full time profession is in the securities brokerage industry, I have been working on the side as an amateur RE investor. 

Sincerely, Mortgage Services Department*******Is this industry standard?  

I invest in a niche industry of real estate (mobile home parks), so I haven't found any lists to help.

I have no intention of paying anywhere near ARV or Retail.  

You're going to see a lot more headlines soon as the market starts catching up to weakness in layoffs, earnings, macro data, ISM/PMI surveys, and retail stocks.That said, if you spend your life trying to time markets, you will more than likely fail.

there is a BP member who publish's a list of the coming foreclsoures in some area of NC>. its pretty nice.. helps a tonI looked at sales there you have a very convoluted way to buy them you bid and someone can upset you.. etc.but generally speaking someone who will pay near retail and is either going to buy and hold and or live in it.. can EASILY compete... becaseu your competition wants EQUITY instantly and wants to rehab flip for profit or wholesale for profit.. if your willing to pay more this should be a slam dunk for you.

Assessor's are not your friend in our industry. 

An investor is going to want to get it at a lower price.Buying a house as a primary residence retail buyer I'd want the job to be done and I would want to imagine myself there.

I'm not in the Chicago area but I am a newbie wholesaler as well (3 weeks into the industry new).

It sounds like you want to hit the ground running with buying an apartment, but I would recommend getting some experience in the industry.