Lots of service sectors folks; a helicopter pilot and web designer;  a mechanic, etc..

CA will always be your better bet for appreciation levels, but unless you are buying a property for cash...the numbers really don't work out very well.

I bet if you get 3-4 bids, you drop the price down into the $350 range.

I wanted to know what are the best tips you experts have on finding leads through property shark and other web services. 

I think your best bet is to target hot areas and target off-market deals until the MLS levels out.

Rent for the long run here or selling a better bet?

They don't want to lose money or watch you lose money, so explain how your market works and is operating and I'd bet they'd work with you.

But, you better be prepared to do a LOT of work to screen these "investors," screen their deals and then oversee their projects to ensure that your investments are protected.Like I said earlier in the thread, your better bet is to just add more deals to your own pipeline if access to deals isn't a problem for you. 

I would say your best bet is an Attorney.

personally, bruny, i am of the nature to try to get something as cheap as i can get it. its kind of a " i win" stragedy. lol. the better i do, the better i feel about it. from the the numbers you listed, $162 seems ok. they came down $27,000, you offered $59,000 less than original. my guess is that was a lowball offer for you. most banks aren't going to settle for a lowball offer anyway. i think i would come back at $150,000. you have come up a decent amount and are willing to assume other liens on the property, and you would be offering a reasonable amount to the bank for it. sure, they came down further than you went up, but if you add in the other liens, i would bet you pretty much meet in the middle