Buying a Mortgage Note and how to leverage it

[Ray Hayward]

Hello, I am looking into buying a Mortgage Note and have a verbal agreement with the bank.  The property has been abandoned and unpaid for almost 10 years.  I was hoping to buy the Note to be able to do an environmental study before foreclosing the property.  However, I am learning that by owning the note does not give me the right to access the property.

Is there an innovative way to facilitate an environmental study if I buy the note?  

Also, I would be purchasing the note from bank first in line, but there is a municipal lien in first place.  If someone else attempts to foreclosure the property, what is the risk of my position?