Hi Evelyn:

Buying real estate sight unseen can be a risk if the investor has no background or idea of what he/she is buying.  The name of the game is research.  If buying vacant land, one must get information about the land; location, condition, what has been on it, previous uses, if anything, what rights come with it (water, minerals, etc), zoning, and potential for rezoning for the purpose it is being purchased.  Also, check with the County or City on the "path of growth or progress" if this is a developing area.  Always, always, always, get in writing from the County or City zoning and if they will allow rezoning and what they will allow to be built on a property.  I know someone who purchased a lot for automotive use, he had gotten a verbal OK from a City worker, only to be told after he baught the lot that he could not put his automotive business on it.

I have purchased tax liens for properties sight unseen done well.  I walked away from one small lot that did not cost much and was no big deal to walk away from.

Hope this helps.

flo