., especially if uninsuredAs to the foreclosure, if this was a judicial foreclosure that was until matey taken to sale, I guess I could envision a problem with noticing and due process, but how much due diligence is required in your state?

We have found our first 3 on the MLS, and through the relationships our realtor has formed we now hear about some properties before they are formally listed.We have yearly tax auctions and have looked at those, but so far nothing has sold for a low enough price for the condition.  

Those that have ideas without a proper, formal training can cause havoc.

I still had to bring money to the table (about 20%) but it allowed me and my investors to take control of a property without having to get formal loan approval because the current owner stayed on as a guarantor.

, tell them that you will require a formal lease and mention that you will study the market and make an adjustment on the rent if necessary. 

That said, you can hire commercial contractors for less money than a 50/50 split, you know they can do the job, but a higher price is the trade off, if you go with residential contractors, it will be less formal, unknown if the company can do the job right and up to a certain standard, probably daily monitoring/over schedule with over budget, etc but the advantage is lower price.That said, I tried a quote from a government contractor (no overages at all) vs a commercial contractor vs a residential contracor, they are 5-10% from each other.

We put the forbearance agreement into place, homeowner makes payments for 12 months, then we create a formal loan modification that is recorded against the property?

Let me first begin by briefly introducing myself as I have not yet done that formally here.I had a vague interest in house flipping for the longest time and finally about July of last year I started really getting my feet wet when I accidentally bumped into Bigger Pockets (so glad I found this website!).

I'm wondering what would be a sensible amount to offer the  neighbor for a formal easement / right of way access.

This is best done formally in writing but sometimes it can be quicker and easier to bounce it verbally off the listing agent / seller first to see if you're anywhere close.