With the information you've given so far I would say send letters to every address you have.If it's a bank or mortgage servicing company and it's a large one, don't waste money on stamps.If it's a local bank, like HI only, go to a branch and ask for the REO dept.Good luck!

Are there any negative side effects of having a quick deed claim?

If you have no intention on listing the house instead of wasting an agents time with a fake listing appointment you could hire a realtor to do a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) which should only cost about $50 and should provide you with enough information to see if the appraiser was way off.

Each state has its own terminology, but recording a release, termination or reconveyance of the mortgage instrument should be effective.  

The person going with me had to change plans and I would hate for it to go to waste. 

When I'm calling expireds and someone says something to the effect of so and so will cut their commission I use that as an opportunity to point out the agents potential weakness.

I believe doing walk throughs with others like you have been doing Account Closedis the most effective method in learning this.

You may be confusing documents and patterns.An affidavit death of joint tenant would be recorded along with a death certificate but would not necessitate a probate to effect an insurable transfer.There are summary probates in some state that require minimum court involvement.In my state, CA, a formal probate is required when the Decedent's interest and their total gross estate exceed $150,000.

Filling for Mi. homestead exemption can be done on or before June 1 for effective this year and Nov.1 for winter tax of that year.

While we definitely have four seasons, the lake effect saves us from receiving the worst of most winters.