It took talking to several different people at the gas company but eventually they changed what they said and it only needed a meter put back on which meant I hired a plumber ($350) to inspect gas line and they had the city tag it to let the gas company know it was ready to go.

It's sounds like the path I strive to be eventually.

The stickers mean that if the owner doesn't fix the property, the city will eventually take action against them either in court or they will demolish the property.  

tax lien sales, you normally have to foreclose on the previous homeowners, which is a legal action, and you may have to evict them, so chance are you will eventually meet them. tax deed sales in the states I look at, the county already takes care of everything, so you wont have to meet them.

Do not be optimistic on the eventual sale price or time to sell; be very conservative.

Eventually I would like to flip/buy & hold.  

  $55k for my first house that I eventually sold for double 15 years later.  

@Mike Roberts Yes I think you are inline but just need to be patient and persistence: you will find deals eventually. 

He eventually stopped ALL of it because he was established and had blown so much on the pricier zips he couldn't do anything more with them.Another agent who has been mentoring me and been wonderful still uses Zillow.

I want to eventually be a real estate heavy hitter.