I thought of contacting the owner but I wasn't sure if the court had control now if the property.

Once it is accepted, YOU control the deal.  

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

Let the bank pay for most of the property while you control all the property.  

I've been and noticed that the banks like to control the auction for their properties.  

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10.

While I usually try to list such properties to attract maximum traffic and price …I think contract with assignment would not be a bad idea.

The key is to reestablish acceptable credit, without doing that your bankruptcy can be 5 years ago and you still won't qualify. 2 years is the minimum, it is not an automatic ticket to qualification.Any lender looks to the reason for the BK, if it was due to circumstances beyond your control (medical bills, sometimes a divorce) the 2 year mark may be used.If the BK was due to your financial mismanagement, you just bought stuff you couldn't pay for, you're looking at 3 yearsA foreclosure is the kiss of death for 3 years not 2.

Months-long evictions, absurd forms, and rent control?

He told me if I ever consider PMing to just go ahead shave my head because I'd pull all my hair out in the first year.Some folks are quite successful at it, but I can't imagine you'd be excited with the $/hour return when compared to rental properties.Another option would be to consider investing out of state - you give up some of the control you have, but can get much better returns and pay somebody else to deal with the headaches.