If the owner says he's interested in selling, I personally would not muddy the waters up trying to talk about a low ball price.  

ITs a small community if you get black balled for writing offers and tying up properties then never closing it makes it harder down the road.. and makes it harder for others as well.

Present a low ball cash offer, knowing they are probably going to try to haggle a better price?

Anyway, I'm happy to meet you at the property if you'd like to do a quick walk through and give you some ball park numbers. 

While I can be rather bold (LOL) I was a ball of nerves knocking on the first few doors.

I won't pretend to have a crystal ball, but since you're asking for gut...I think the market is turning from fiery to just hot, but directionally cooling, and (un)affordability on the Peninsula is creeping into 2004-2006 levels, so I don't predict a long, hot run ahead of us for the next 9-18 months.

Some counties are so far behind, you can go a couple years without them doing anything, and others are on the ball and will sell it right away.

I too am new and am just about ready to get the ball rolling.  

Richard Ball In my contract the time of occupancy is 1year.

While we low ball, we also do't go down to 60%.