I'm in our procurement department, so I spend all day working with our suppliers of both goods and services, helping folks at our resort properties sort through issues, finding strange/large/expensive/hard-to-find items, and bidding out items that we need for various projects to generate savings for the company.

That information has likely been gleaned from the public records which themselves are also not up-to-the-minute.Just to add to the items @Andrew Holmes listed, follow bankruptcies, also.

Before kids I had a bunch of time and could take the time to search for the best deal on a $5 item, or jump through hoops to stack coupons, etc. 

My wife made it a beautiful home, added a hot tub, updated the HVAC, repaired the boathouse, remodeled the Master bathroom & several other items like emergency generator connection.

Therefore, I would pay more for that than a well-run property with some expensive repair items that need to be done. 

I have a realestate book that gives the line items to consider.

You just have to be able to make those payments if a vacancy or high maintenance item occurs.

There is a plethora of items under each topic that you must know before you jump in.1.

Use tag sale items, free items on the side of the road, craigs list free items and unused family peices in storage.

In most states it is now time to consider running for political office... no, not the big offices, the small important ones:City or Borough Council, County Commissioner or Supervisor, School Board, Tax Collector, Treasurer, etc.For so long we have left these positions to those that want to use them as a stepping stone.