Liabilities are common among tax foreclosed properties and are often the reason the debtor or heirs are not paying the dues. 

Great book as well especially for getting everyone focused towards a common goal. 

Establishing a relationship with a few of them locally or nationally [if you have a network] would be extremely beneficial.

@Chad Gardner - this is one of the most common questions we get from potential/future househackers. 

definitely pretty common among Hard Money Lenders - just have to have a strong valuation team and expertise Yeah I can't remember the last time I had to get an appraisal on a hard money loan.  

Is this type of financing common?

It makes for an extremely passive way to invest in real estate but at the end of the day you do have the say so on what happens at your property. 

I know your cost of living May be higher than mine was (I live in Virginia), but the skills you develop from this will be extremely useful in many ways. 

its pretty common .. in the PNW there are large communities and this pattern happens more than one might imagine..

Prices will be extremely high - I don't think most investors are buying in these areas unless you have a lot of money and plan to house hack.