Driver around all the streets and look for vacant houses.

I could write a book on the all the interactions I've had with the folks who show up off the street, knock on doors, walk into a house tailgating on someone else's showing ("Are you with them?

Electric and water is available at the street but costs $8k-20k dependant in having someone come out to review.

@Amanda DolanIf you have found a property that you might be interested in, go to "Property search-nyc.gov"...you type in the borough and the street address of the property and you'll be able to see the taxes owed, but most importantly, you'll see the owner's name and if the owner doesn't live there it may have the owner's actual address as well.

The house is lower than the street level and that got me worried about water.After the first visit I observe the following:    ROOF:- Owner says that the roof has been redone in 2014 and is in good shape.BASEMENT:- There is a drainage canal around the walls connected to a sump pump on the corner.

I have rehabbed properties from the high end Canton area of 21224($80,000 rehab) all the way to Biddle street in 21213, where I bought a house for only $9,000.

Good life style.....About 10 years ago, I was looking trying to buy a condo there, but boy, every street was filled with "for rent" sign and I gave up at the time....

I know I didn't use sales within the last 6 months for Comp 1 and 2, but Comp 1 is literally on the same exact street (which is key because the street is just off a busy street with a bunch of businesses).

The appraisal came back at $109k, and some of the comparable homes are laughable, 2 bedroom 1 bath homes that are 6/7 miles away in a different class of neighborhood, while not including the house across the street that sold for $160k.

I've looked at their listings and driven by a couple of USREEB properties - in fact, there's one for rent now that's just down the street from my rental, and it looks pretty OK to me.