Seems like a clear, cut, dry, easy profit. 

Oil was at a record low and our coal mines are drying out. those are the life blood of the area.

Are they rotted?  

You don't want to get in a position where the capital markets dry up and you cannot refinance. 

I was under contract to actually by 12 units and because the financing market dried up over night I decided to wholesale the 3rd Quad to a friend.

Wood doesn't rot after one exposure to water, so if it is rotten we are talking years of exposure. 

Specific performance litigation is a waste of money and an attorney will likely tell you so once they've run your pockets dry.

You have several choices: pay to have someone haul it and compost; build a wire cage about 4' tall to place grass clippings and dry not colored newsprint to allow to compost; ignore and see if you get fined...

In my county , the health dept has records showing the location of the tank and drain fields / dry wells . 

Around the toilets and bath tubs, feel the floor to see if it is soft, this is an indication of rotted wood floors, big issues.Roof look for double layer of shingles or age. you can look in the city, permit search, for the last time of replacement, if they tell you is new ask for the permits.Sewages and water lines, yes Cast Iron and black pipes (mostly commercial) can be an issue but look for the clean out and how far it is from trees.