# Look at bulletin boards, local papers and small independent publications. This goes for every publication you get. Make sure you get one of the first copies off the press. Go to the facility that houses the presses and get your copy before the ink has a chance to dry. Let no one beat you to the punch.

# Better yet, advertise yourself and get people who are thinking about selling to call you before they actually tell the world through an ad.

# Look at the legal section of the newspapers. Contact heirs and attorneys, and sales in the garage or estate sale sections. Also, 20 percent of people who have garage sales are planning on moving soon. Ask about their house or their neighbor’s homes. Always keep your antenna up!

# Your odds of success increase when you choose large population centers and remain in the market constantly on the lookout for your type of deal.

# Look for vacant houses that are run down, fire damaged, or abandoned, with city notices evident. Talk to the neighbors of these homes. They usually know who owns it and what is going on. They have an interest in seeing it restored to beauty. It sure is a shame you can’t look in the mailbox to see who is receiving mail at the property in question—wouldn’t that be easy? Walk up to a property and look in a window to confirm that it is indeed vacant—but don’t endanger yourself by getting bit or shot! Use common sense. Contact out-of-state owners through property records or by letter and/or phone. Leave your cards on the door.