Make a very low ball offer and just walk away hoping they don't accept.  

I prefer the 50% rule as a ball park consideration point.

I am still looking for a mortgage officer that can make a deal work for me and I would love to have a similar plan as you Steve once I get the ball rolling.I have considered getting a loan from a private lender, but like I said I am very green in the real estate investing business.

Takes time to grow a business and get "the ball rolling" in the right direction.Best of luck,Sam 

My thought is that a local bank may be willing to play ball on this complete gut-rehab of a 1990s property owned by a local borrower who employs strong local third-party management. 

In the next downturn I would expect many markets to see major declines where others that were not as volatile see less drastic decreases or hold their value.At the end of the day no one has a crystal ball and there is no magic formula that will make any one investor immune to the downturn.

Please refer to original post located at: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/343435-low-balling-for-100-000-off-market-value-possible

I am still trying to figure out exactly how I am going to get the ball rolling here.  

If a house could go for $320,000 as is in market value how would someone go about contacting the absentee owner losing money as a rental with $50,000 worth of repairs, with an offer no higher than $220,000 but honestl...

Do I give them an estimate or do I put the ball back in their court and ask how much they're willing to sell for?