Thanks for the encouragement everybody.

Attacking people, especially newbies, certainly would not encourage them to come back for more "education."  

I'd encourage you to reach out to more experienced investors in your area!

Welcome to BiggerPockets @Michael SappI'd encourage you to reach out to more experienced investors in your area!

I'd encourage you to reach out to more experienced investors in your area!

I would like to encourage the new investors to never give up even if you are not getting the results that you expected.

It also says lenders are "encouraged to permit an assumption of a real property loan at the existing contract rate or at a rate which is at or below the average between the contract and market rates..."  

Welcome @Jake Baxter.If a bank owned the house then you should probably see it on the assessor card and if it was foreclosed on those records are public.I would definitely encourage talking to the neighbors, mail carrier, etc. to find out more information (they usually know the most).Hopefully this deal works out, but don't get stuck or emotionally invested in it - keep doing research on it, but also keep looking and making offers on a lot of other homes.Please keep us posted on your progress.

I have never authorized nor encouraged unethical behavior but I have been the beneficiary of it on several occasions.

I'd encourage you to reach out to more experienced investors in your area!