That being said, here are a few other items that might be worth considering.

This is my first deal underwriting with some help from a friend in the BP community, he has more underwriting experience then I have but I am a beginner. 
We reviewed this deal from one of the major brokers as a pote...

@Vikram Puri - CT taxes are very high, but if you are going to invest in the state, Hartford is not a terrible focus area.

Research all the top companies in the area - Lilly, Sales Force, Rolls Royce, various insurance companies. 

You are a great resource of knowledge for anyone looking to invest in tax liens in Alabama.  

Get out to meetups in your area and meet some other investors.

Its important to look at your metro area, but also at local neighborhoods, as they can differ quite a bit. 

I am a new BP Pro member and have spent the last couple of months in my area looking for great deals - any of the properties worth purchasing just seem to require an extensive amount of work.

I'm sure more questions will develop as we move through this process.It's pretty competitive, so you'd be best off having some inside information and someone who has flipped a few in the area.

Referalls from other investors, researching online and looking at reviews, and BiggerPockets suggested lenders are a few ways to connect with lenders.