Newbie Question on Sources of Deals

[Michael Krassos]

Hi all, I am new to this and now taking action on my business plan. Next step for me is to determine my comfort zone including determining sources of deals and evaluating. Can you please advise/confirm my understanding of sources for the following information - are they typically available from a public source, i.e County, Borough records:

1) Absentee Owners - is this determined by looking at the owners address on county records?
2) Abandoned - Walking streets and determining based on state of property?
3) Probates/Inherited Properties?
4) Pre-foreclosures, foreclosures - How can I determine before these are listed on MLS?
5) Expired listings - are these determined from MLS?
6) Tax liens?
7) Short Sales - are these only determined through a realtor and MLS?

I greatly appreciate any help.
[b]I never worry about action, but only inaction. - Winston Churchill