My preliminary searches through the MLS (Redfin.com) don't show very many distressed looking properties, and even the lowest sales don't seem to provide a sufficient spread between sales price and ARV.

(preliminary title search in process).  

I would wager that this is the case for 99% of the members on the site asking this question.

You are looking at 1500 to 3500 ish to get a geological evaluation done and some preliminary design work.  

I'm doing some preliminary searches for a multifamily property within 20 miles of where I live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago (Schaumburg) which will be my 2nd rental property.  

I am hoping there is some way to look up the property addreses in order to do preliminary analysis and get a property profile to establish if the property is something I'd wanna even make an offer on, BEFORE I contact the attorney or executor.

I'd wager a guess there is a US bank or Fedex office or something private that has a shorter wait time. 

He specializes in real estate and from our conversation, even though he has a new practice, I believe personally that he has done preliminary RE related activities.

But preliminary title search shouldn't take a month. 

If you're not local, you could have your real estate agent handle some of the preliminary research for you.