I've noticed it really helps them get in the mode to take action sooner than later.

The good news is claiming income allows you to claim expenses, which means a portion of the house, utilities, etc. can become an expense. https://www.nolo.com/legal-enc...

If you believe the matter might be covered by your title insurance, submit a claim to the insurer and allow them time to make a coverage decision and take actions before entering into any agreements that might affect the insurer's ability to defend your title. 

Often, there are off-record legal actions already in the works in background that might show up with deeper research. 

The hardest part for me,  and it’s why I don’t take action, is that buying a house will use all my savings.

Huntsville just continues to grow.https://www.al.com/news/huntsv...

Pick a strategy and start taking action!

Congrats on putting yourself out there and taking action. 

So for the beginner or advanced note buyer as stated you need massive equity coverage as a bad note that has to be foreclosed on can take years if you cant get them to give you a DIL or U need to clear title through the foreclosure action.

Most of all broken down to actionable steps so the program also kept me on track.