what did the credit report give for previous addresses of this guy?

My plan was to break down the owner's address by ZIP and spend a Saturday going to each ZIP and door knocking.

Given that the website does not include it's address and business information in the footer, as required by law, is using the California State Seal without permission (it's obviously not a state run entity or affiliated in any way), and does not provide any details or information on who is behind the site and how they supposedly are affiliated with the attorneys who wrote the state exam....I would be highly suspect of anything this site has to offer. 

Thanks for addressing the depreciation techniques with MHP's, Brad.

The owner is 22 years behind on taxes and owes $43,000~ in taxes...The owner is listed at the same address...

finally if credit is lousy but they did not lie about their name and address than I would ask for: first month rent deposit (same amount as rent) and last month rent on 12 months lease!

The option agreement then becomes the sale agreement at the time of notice.Probably too hard for the gurus to teach.Otherwise, you need a purchase agreement and as you say, if things are not addressed in advanced or a sale contract to be used is not agreed to in advance, you can have issues. :)

If the intent is to build a reserve fund for maintenance/capex items, then another method of addressing this that a local investor shared with me recently is to set that money aside up front, and consider it part of your acquisition costs.

If you want to send me the address I can look and see what the status of the foreclosure is.

Most of the skip tracing sites will require you to have a business, business address, business phone number, business license.