If the house is on that site and violations haven't been addressed and you gut the house, you'll get nailed for illegal deleading and it will be on that record that there was illegal deleading done in the house.

@Steve Vaughan you both hit the nail on the head right there.

So now I keep it simple and pound nails instead of sand.

Anyways, I think you hit the nail on the head with this quote:"I would not buy a house in these types of neighborhoods."

You hit the nail on the head.

Especially if your finger nails are long.

I just use scraps of sheet vinyl and on occasion I've used very small nails to hold it in place. 

BTW, there was no mention of that guy being licensed or having representation and I'm sure there was more than one attorney at the table.Nothing wrong with assigning a contract, if done properly, usually, as a business model where that's all you do, you'll have other issues, which is what the wholesaler in Florida (a member here) was getting nailed for a few weeks ago.

There's a plethora of posts on the different type of  REI lists, from auction notification lists to wholesalers' mailing lists; that might be exactly what you're looking for.To answer your second question:In all honesty, @Joel Owen hit the nail on the head.

I think Russell nailed it---so many people don't even understand that landlords have mortgages, property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, repairs.....that said,  the world IS harder for people in lower incomes than ever before.