The only saving grace is that on the blocks I am purchasing, the homes are still habitable.We have been contacted by a seller in Wallace NC.

Odd jobs like replacing a basement window and blocking off entrances for pests to larger one off jobs like replacing kitchen cabinets etc?

Not sure what I can do but seems I need some way to block the water from their roof or change my vinyl siding to something else.

@Calvin Rankin if it was unpaid property taxes, it would be tied to the deed and that could block a sale. 

I have 5 properties in the zip code of these duplexes and I have been in the neighborhood and looked at 2 houses a few blocks from these in the past. 

College campuses almost never drain.

Other thing to not forget here is that ideally you are 'blocking' your central air to your 2 units you decide you are going to be installing these on.#3 - this is what we did with our duplex. 

Is it feet, yards, cubits (LOL) city blocks, water-meters, utility poles, sewer lines, or just plain up to the lender?

We have grown to love our new neighborhood; very stable, many long term homeowners on the block.

He used actual fixer-uppers as comps and came in at 30-40K below value. 2K for those 3 appraisals down the drain.