My method involves finding the owners through public records and calling them directly.  

They obviously know what you paid for the house since it's public record.

First, is there an actual recorded easement for the lateral?

I am looking for a coach who has a great track record and is well known and respected on BP.I offer terms where you get paid when I do the deals and not before.

Thanks,YAYES, but only for the 120 days right if redemption that the IRS gets; that date in my area typically starts from when the new deed records.  

Section 34.03(a), Tax Code, is amended to read asfollows: (a) The clerk of the court shall: (1) if the amount of excess proceeds is more than $25,before the 31st day after the date the excess proceeds are receivedby the clerk, send by certified mail, return receipt requested, awritten notice to the former owner of the property, at the formerowner's last known address according to the records of the court orany other source reasonably available to the court, that: (A) states the amount of the excess proceeds; (B) informs the former owner of that owner'srights to claim the excess proceeds under Section 34.04; and (C) includes a copy or the complete text of thissection and Section 34.04; [and] (2) regardless of the amount, keep the excess proceedspaid into court as provided by Section 34.02(d) [34.02(c)] for aperiod of two years after the date of the sale unless otherwiseordered by the court; and (3)regardless of the amount, send to the attorneygeneral notice of the deposit and amount of excess proceeds if theattorney general or a state agency represented by the attorneygeneral is named as an in rem defendant in the underlying suit forseizure of the property or foreclosure of a tax lien on theproperty.

So I can call customer service and in 3 minutes get a complete verbal date down on the phone.. it helps in real time when your working foreclosure stuff.Also any agent can call customer service and get copy of last recorded deed the tax info zoning etc.. sent over in a matter of minutes... out east when its kind of backwards form what I have experienced were you open an order and they don't order title to the end as you have to actually pay an abstractor to go to the courthouse I guess and physically pull data... so this leads to title issues at the end of the transaction were out here we have title within as I said 72 hours max of opening the order so you know up front if you have an issue and you have the whole contract period to work on it if need be.

In which case, the smarter of the two should run, not walk, to county records and get his contract recorded against the property title.

I located a very decripit duplex in my area and I am searching County records to find the owner.The duplex is in an area with rapidly rising prices, and I am a newbee investor.What would you suggest as the best strategy to approach the owner to see if he will sell for a deeply discounted price? 

It's well organized and you can meet lots of other investors there.