I am hoping that over the next couple weeks I am able to uncover more facts on this pursuit.

A title search should uncover anything like this. 

I know that finding reliable contractors and uncovering potential issues with rentals will be a bit of an uphill battle for me at first so I plan to not be too overzealous. :)

In the event it is uncovered that a Fannie Mae broker is a party to any such prohibited conduct, the broker may be subject to termination and the case may be reported to the agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting such cases.ACTION!

But if the home is incredibly old and contains cloth wiring or shabby building opening things could uncover more than u bargain for.

The more digging you do the more prepared you'll be and a lot of times, the more digging you do, the more seriously the sellers and broker will take you and the more of a chance you'll have of negotiating a better price (because of uncovering something unsavory).

., etc...When the estate is ready to sell and your ready to buy remember to check for old liens against the property that may need to be cleared ~ liens must be taken care of prior to closing a sale.A good title company can help you uncover potential issues with the property.

I know it could take time to uncover a deal.  

I'm on a tight budget, what direct mail lists typically generate the most response and uncover the most motivated sellers?

If the borrower recently used credit to finance vehicles, trips, toys and the like as they will be uncovered by the lender when the lender runs a credit report on the borrower.Copies of Bank Statements: If the seller’s bank statements reflect unaccountable deposits, large cash withdrawals, or an unusual number of checks, it's probably a good idea to explain each of those line items to the lender.