Is there any easy way to find them?

Any tips?

Get in your car and drive around and look for abandoned nasty properties

My first item to look for when riding around is the absence of an electric meter (removed). That's a tale tell sign of a property not on the market that could be a deal. Abandoned, property owner in trouble, etc.

Also in our area, the sewer company places a bright red sticker on the front door of a property when the sewer has been disconnected for non payment.

I've found & flipped (or listed) many properties by observation of the above.

Ok, if they are abandoned, how do I find the true owner? Public record?

You could also flip properties you buy off forclosure auctions since you usually end up buying the property for way below the market value price. Especially if the property needs lots of fixing to do and just say you buy it 50% off market value then you have done a great job there and will make lots of money once you sell it!

Isn't there alot of risk buying from auction/sheriff sale?
Such as leins and encumberences?

If your unable to perform due diligance on a sale or willing to pay to have it performed.. you should never consider sheriff sales... heck.. you should probably not consider investing in real estate either.

Learn what it is about before you think your investing, because if you don't your simply gambling NOT investing.

At this point, I am not gonna get involved investing, yet. I am just prying for info and trying to learn as much as possible before I do. I try to do as much homework as possible before actually doing. I probably should go to some sheriff sales to see how they operate. I wish I knew someone around here that does go so I can go with and learn from them.

Joey. Do you own your home that you live in now? If not, that should be your starting point.

no, I do not own a home.

That is not normally true...

Owning your home has many advantages but as for as actual investment it is a very poor choice because your money is tied up and more difficult to access equity and the property would be at risk for any equity pull you make.

While it is the "American Dream" it is not a true investment for profit motives. Few deductions other than interest are possible.

Many real investors start out by renting but purchasing other properties for income generation (holding for cash flow) or flip for far faster working capital build ups.

Just starting out doing flips or just assignments can increase your working capital 100% to well over 300% or more each flip if you purchased well and were correct in your market analysis. I have made well over 3500% on some flips... and it is easy... pick up Sub-2 and your out of pocket is very low... often zero where any returns over expenses is infinite.
ADDED... with investment properties, an HUGE number of write offs present themselves that can magnify your actual profits. You are allowed to write of millage while you search for or inspect your properties, all materials for repairs, all cost of services for those repairs, power, water, gas . These write offs can often increase your profits 10% or more.

Additionally in todays markets you can normally rent a far nicer property for the amount you will pay in mortgage, taxes and insurance and day to day expenses of maintenance. I think everyone should have primary home ownership in their overall plans but it is actually a very poor starting place if your goal is capital generation.

What is Sub-2?

On my website, there is an excerpt from my book on finding good projects (and ones to avoid) for amateur investors...

http://www.sellwithsoul.com/workingwithinvestors.html

Jennifer

Wow, you like to plug your book alot.
I think there is a section in the forum for that.

Uh, no, I was just offering some free information from my website. Sorry.