A great place to start is https://www.biggerpockets.com/meet which you can use to find like-minded people in your area and every other market across the nation that you may consider.You'll find some helpful tips at https://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere.For tips on how to get the most out of BiggerPockets, check out: https://www.biggerpockets.com/rei/biggerpockets-com-tutorial/The BiggerPockets Keyword Alert System is an awesome tool: https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2012/12/1...See you on future threads!

The people that run these companies usually come from an "investment banking", real estate, or construction background.

Ultimately, that may drive the price of the units down because it is affordable to less people. 

It is important to remember this prior to considering investing in these instruments.This is incorrect advice.Please see Alabama Code Section 40-10-174  “Any purchaser of lands at a tax sale other than the state or anyone claiming under him shall be entitled to possession of said lands immediately upon receipt of certificate of sale from the tax collector”Keep in mind this does not mean that you can just go and kick the people out of there house. 

In my experience, most properties that go to auction end up overpriced so I'd be prepared to attend a LOT in order to get something that worked on paper.When I attended my first market auction with an experienced agent the advice he gave me was to figure out my maximum beforehand and stick to it (Seems obvious but people get caught up in winning).

Why else would so meany people be trying to help you for free?

The best way is with people you know. 

Heating costs go up in winter, as does electricity due to the reduced natural light and more people indoors.

People in 1979 were angry that prices tripled in half a decade.

After 47 years in RE I see far to many people let tax driven decisions lead to a bad real estate decision.