Whether you want to flip the property, rent it or do something else with it, you want to get the best deal. To get the best price on properties, you should be quick to find the property. If you really like the property, you should probably make an offer the same day you see it.
You should also consider purchasing a bank-foreclosed property. If the seller has failed to make the mortgage payments for a long time, the lender lists the house on sale. Banks don't want to manage the properties and they prefer to be in the lending business. These kind of deals are some of the best in the real-estate investing.
Look at a lot of properties before you make a decision to buy one. Unless you see a lot of properties, you can never have a good idea about the right price. It will greatly help you in understanding the market better. In the end, it is a numbers game, the more properties you see, the greater are your chances of getting a property at the best price.