Act like a bird dog and drive for dollars.  

I have been living in Roseville, CA for almost 2 years and I realize I know very little about the market here and the surrounding Sacramento Area.  

Are your fears surrounding using hard money related to the relatively higher cost of the loan?

So I'll be studying for that, driving for dollars with my husband (looking around when stuck at traffic lights every 10 yards) and (in addition to the podcasts) reading what every real estate investor needs to know about cash flow).

That was enough for me to not even do a night time drive through like I always do with any house I'm thinking of buying.That is my humble 2 cents.

I will also purchase some more generic mail pieces and drive for dollars in my area.

These people have not paid taxes and the property will eventually go to some sort of tax sale if not paid off.Vacant/Abandoned (Driving for dollars) You'll likely have to skip trace the owner to try to contact them.

I have been living in Roseville, CA for almost 2 years and I realize I know very little about the market here and the surrounding Sacramento Area.  

@Alisha Decoteau I would start by walking and driving the neighborhoods at different times of the day.

I soon made it a habit of listening to the BP podcasts while driving to and from my full-time job over the past few weeks.