You will find the best deals in 3-6 months; that's about how long it's going to take for delinquencies to turn into repos or distressed sales.

Make sure to have cash in hand or financing lined up, and that you're taking possession of title immediately (or in a way that you're not going to be left hung out to dry due to the repo process, if the sale is distressed). A branch of the institution that is the lienholder on the title is the ideal place to complete the transaction.