Has anyone tried buying REO from sites like RealtyTrac? Should I be looking at these and can they be assigned? I need to start somewhere.
General consensus seems to be that realtrytrac is outdated. If you want REO properties, try finding a local RE agent that specializes in them. Or just a good agent who will look for them.
Buying foreclosures sight unseen can be very scary. You might end up with one that looks good on the outside, but is a slanty shanty inside - costing you a lot of money.
You can also check here http://www.thedirectoriescompany.com/reos.htm - click on each link and search for properties in your area. If they are there, you can pretty much go see them, since they will be listed with a realtor.