You can regularly follow the classifieds in your local paper or read the Royal Gazette in your province for publication of foreclosure or mortgage sale.To find owners of a property, you will need access (electronic or physical) to the land registry of the province in which the property resides.  

There is a profound difference between Keene, and say Claremont or Newport, even if they seem similar on paper."

It has an awfully weird kitchen layout where there's a doorway to an additional sink and cabinet space.

Sign the paper work on the internet.

(In other words, how do I keep all of this legal on paper?)

Bring questions, paper, pen and ideas to have some fun learning!   

@Rob Ringlehan the VA regs lay out beginning occupancy pretty well, but they do not specify the amount of time that you are supposed to occupy for, though commonly 1 year is the accepted amount.

Soooo, it all looks good on paper and I can see the benefits.

Considering I have not yet gotten a deal closed and this person is highly motivated (wants to sign papers in a week before she goes back home - out of state) I want to jump on it but I'm trying to be smart about things.

I think it is a Fannie Mae rule for 7 years, so if you can find a bank that won't "flip the loan" and will hold the paper themselves, but that is harder and would likely be a higher interest rate.