With that being said, I see this Summit as a tremendous opportunity to take my REI education to a whole new level and learn from people I've come to know and trust here on BP.

I have done so under the guidance of Equity Trust.

If the end buyer is all cash, it gets a lot easier as you can avoid transactional funding and two closings via a land trust or entity formation.

Not all estates are probated, wills are approved and won't show up, properties in trust and properties held in joint tenancy are generally passed without probate issues.While I know you can chase the ambulance I never did, I realize that the world is all computerized now, but did you try looking these old folks up in the phone book, get the address, from there you can get the legal and copies of deeds and mortgages filed.

Many of those deal aren't deals, they are divorce settlements, transfers to family or trusts may be investors putting stuff in an llc.Sounds too like your Realtor just put you on the public side of the mls, solds are there but limited to mls members, a Realtor giving out access to the public would be in for it, doubt you'll have that much of a favor unless you marry them.Try courthouse records, multiple mortgagors are buyers with financing, grantees with no deed of trust are cash buyers.

Best to minimize the risk by partnering with a trusted and experienced rehabber and pay him 50% of the deal to help you complete this one successfully.2) You need a team (contractor, rehabber-partner or both) to analyze the repairs AND the ARV (After repair Value, NOT AVR) to see if the numbers given to you by the wholesaler are in fact accurate.3)You may want to work a second job or start with wholesaling first so that you can come up with enough money (10% of project costs?)

Should I use a land trust to hold the property so the mortgage company doesn't notice the change in ownership.

Are you looking at properties near the casino and have you read about national retail tenants going to the complex?

I suppose with disclosure and adhearing to FEMA requirements you would limit liability issues, if you trust FEMA.

Trust me I am not losing sleep over it.