Your best bet is to network and find other investors to exchange contracts with.  

These would be your best bet if looking at properties under 50k.

I bet there are issues and deferred maintenance, but hey, we are buying at a discount for a reason. 

@Miles White  @Jeff Copeland  Is 100% right unless you can find reliable comps where this property ARV for 300,000 then your best bet is to advise seller to try the retail route and if you have a realtor you have a relationship with do the referral and negotiate a Bird Dogging fee.

Your best bet would be to talk to a local community bank.

I'd bet the owner claimed the tenant acted without his knowledge or consent, just guessing on that. 

Home Inspections" giving anyone an opinion of property condition for a fee is what home inspectors do, again, regulated with license requirements.You mentioned flips, I'm betting that in your area, like mine, a homeowner is limited to what they can repair or construct in a residential area, now we are talking Contractors.

Is my best bet getting a private money loan and trying to buy a property that is at the auction?

For any outstanding mortgages, you want to see that a release and satisfaction has been recorded indicating that the mortgage has been paid off and released.If you're not familiar with the processes that I just referenced your best bet is going to be to hire a title company or a real estate attorney to assist you.

it maybe the kids I bailed out were Rich Dad poor dad deciples it was the first time I had ever heard of that book or that author.. this was 2005 ish... they ended up being my best team of bird dogs and door knockers I bet they acquired well over 100 sub too for us.this was in the day here in Orygun that it was legal to buy a sub too and keep the owner who was in foreclosure on as the tenant.