If you’re serious about bidding, investing in a professional title search is worth it to minimize risk.

Readers should seek professional advice.Thank you, Ashish.

Use the professionals and ask a lot of questions.  

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

It sounds like the reason you wanted to do this was to achieve Real Estate Professional Status. 

In the world of accounting, different levels of education, expertise, and responsibilities define a professional’s title and role.

When I spoke with a real estate professional, she said the home would probably sell for around $250k in its current condition.

Since rental losses are typically passive, the best way to offset W-2 income is through Real Estate Professional Status (REPS) (750+ hours) or Short-Term Rentals (STRs) (100+ hours and more time than anyone else managing the property), which allow real estate losses, including depreciation, to offset active income.A cost segregation study accelerates depreciation, generating large upfront deductions.

I guess that you could call me a 'professional host'.  

Please seek guidance from a qualified eviction attorney or legal professional to handle this situation properly.Hope this helps, and best of luck resolving the matter!