Ultimately,  private money lending would be a great option since they will not ask for as much when funding and usually can close quickly. 

Check with @Justin Eaton on the next local BP meet up - usually its every month.

There's definitely money to be made there, you usually only run into two problems with smaller towns. 

Peaks and valleys seem to run in 10 year cycles, with downturns usually triggered by bad news.

Whatever fits the rest of the neighborhood is usually the best route to go.

Getting with a investment lender can really help you with understanding the numbers and they usually have a preferred wholesaler that can be beneficial in your search for that first property.

Once I have that information, I usually will go over to the property appraisers site to get the owners information and then ride by the property to see if it is vacant. 

You can usually comp properties out yourself, but you need to know if there are any major structural problems. 2) I would consult a local attorney to ensure you are considering all applicable laws (usury, registrations etc.)3) This is up to you.

Be very careful, depending on your state, it’s very hard to get clear title for tax defaulted properties, you usually need wait redemption period expires then suit quiet title for marketable title

How does this work usually.