We have outstanding credit, no debt, and a good bit of savings.  

My mentor and I have been calling each other back and forth and getting a feel for situation.There is $383 prop tax outstanding since 2014, this is 1st, etc...So my mentor suggests I go to the house and see what is looks like closer up/see if folks who live there are home/will talk/ etc.So I do it lol!

No outstanding collections.

can you complete the current outstanding projects with the money that you already have?

He is outstanding - reviews all the little nooks and crannies as well as provides recommendations on what can be monitored versus repaired. 

Let's say you have good credit and minimal outstanding debt.

Or will they go after the title company (someone mentioned this to me), because the title company did not catch the outstanding red-flag permit on file with the city?  

You need a cash buyer, and beware of any outstanding liens/judgments or title issues on the property when someone is willing to sell a house in good condition, for half price.  

You can get an idea of outstanding assets from paid research sites like prop radar etc.What I do not know - why do so many of seemingly good properties get "withdrawn" before the auction, do large investors/pros approach the owners and buy them before the auction?

They currently have an outstanding $565 utility bill from Q3 2016 with me that they still haven't paid.