If I do go and see the properties should I have one of the local REIA guys send a contractor to meet with me to give me prices on the repairs to help garner more leverage in negotiations?

@Anna Watkins  Anna it would be customary to get a " release clause " written into a blanket mortgage.some will specify exact dollars to release a particular property... or a % of the loan .. it becomes a negotiation if you will with your lender

@Evan there is no right answer and it is all negotiable. 

Auctions have always intrigued me as you can avoid a lot of the negotiating with sellers but having to buy without seeing property would be interesting.

The training was on Negotiating and Salesmanship, and what to do when you get a call from your marketing.

You may be able to negotiate a modification with the fist lien holder after foreclosure, but its a risky gambit at best.  

We negotiated 12% off the remaining balance, took out a refi on the property after it appraised for $200K (!)

If you're negotiating directly with the seller, and he's motivated, then you might be able to get away with that and give a very small amount for the earnest money.2.

I told him there wasn't much I could do because it's not really worth my time negotiating with the bank & HOA for what's certain to be little profit but I told him I'd think about it.

He is somewhat elderly so not sure if this is normal negotiation in some circles?