My name is Pat and I want to get started in real estate but I have no idea where to begin.

Hi Joel, I’m not actively looking in Hamilton, but always open to ideas and opportunities.

Although I am still in the education phase, I’d like to gain an idea of how to fund my first deal by asking those who’ve surpassed this first step.

I had no idea what a good deal was.

The SDAT website is where you go in Maryland to see who the property tax bill is going too/who is probably paying it.I'll check out the skip tracer idea, thx!

The original owner also has a brother but I was told that he is homeless and they have no idea where he would be.

My agent who I met here on BP gave me a ruff idea of 50k but didno want to make offer until contractor walks home and give me a price idea but before contractor could get there house was already in contract. :(.

I am sure that I am not the first to have this idea so I am just wondering if people have been successful with this in the past or if it is not recommended.

So in essence I would still be adding to the heloc.I can flip it and clear 30k to pay down the heloc as planned, but lose a potentially good rental property.I am conflicted....flip or plan as cash out.I also have another rental that I could do a cash out and reduce some on my heloc(interest only) and still cover note/expenses.I do not like the idea of a balance on a heloc since it is interest only and is currently up to 6.5%Cash out and reduce some of the 6.5% interest only to a fixed 4.77% and paying down with each payment.

In fact, I'd also recommend trying to catch one of those weekly webinars that Brandon Turner does - he usually goes through analyzing a deal in each one, and it may give you a better idea of how to calculate how much of a mortgage you can take on.