Contacting Owner...I Am A Moron
There is a duplex down the road from me that I have had my eye on for a while now. Today I saw who I though was the owner in the front yard talking to two other people. I took that as an opportunity to strike up a conversation and inquire if he might be interested in selling.
So I walk up and ask if one of them was the owner and they all say "no" and one man asks what I need with the owner, I blurt out that I might be interested in buying the place. I was so certain that one of the men was the owner (I had seen him there before), it turns out they are all tenants. One says that they can give my number to the owner and I give it to him. Why did I do this?? 
If it was my place I would not want some guy coming up making offers via the tenants, making them nervous of their future there. I think I may have screwed up my chances of ever persuading the owner of selling. Did I totally blow it? 
Probably not.
NOT at all... the only people you owe anything to is yourself and those that rely on you for support...
Use every means posible to find the deals as long as it is legal...
If the owners asks; are you the "$%^& that spoke to my renters? say yes I am.... Then say I wanted to buy the duplex vacant or occupied it doesnt matter.
The only thing negitive I can say is why did it take you so long to get the owners number...
Good Job
[addsig]
Thanks for the pep talk everyone! (and the advice ) I lost my head for a bit there...