Do you have anyway to vet the communications you are getting as actually coming from the person who has the assets you've checked out?

I found something on the county site that seems consistent with the record shown on zillow (the county shows same sale price and date as the foreclosure listed on zillow). 

You will need those to communicate with the lender...i.e. getting a payoff authorization when you go to sell. 

Finding a investor friendly agent is a pain and communicating through an agent isn't exactly fun.

If you discover the repairs and removal are excessive you can communicate your concerns to the seller in the form of a new offer at a lower price OR request that they remove the tank prior to closing. 

What I have learned after listening to the podcasts and reading how others market for properties, they say that yellow letters are the best, followed by consistency, meaning sending those suckers out every few weeks and then a website with a lead generation opt in. 

It turns out that he's got 6 duplex and 1 house for sale upon further communication.  

Its all about that consistency.   

Make sure to roll it out in the paint pan so it looks consistent over the whole roller before you go at the wall.You can blend the lines by going back over stuff you just rolled on with a roller that's mostly empty.

That is, the only thing consistent about a private loan is that there is no consistency.In addition, much as it bothers some, lenders will call themselves what they want (hard money, private money, asset based, etc…) and there are no strict, legal, or "official" definitions or guidelines.Traditionally, hard money loans are based upon the value of the asset that secures them.