Check with your county agency that is responsible for this, including HUD too.  

It sounds like you bring some insider experience from Redevelopment agency. 

I'm going to be connected to one oif the largest / most successful agencies in New england.

Once you have affirmation from the attorney that they are the legal heirs, you have your missing pieces of information.A) When and how much the liens are on the houseB) When/if the house will go to auctionC) That the people in the house are the legal heirs and can sell it to you.At this point, if not sooner, you maybe able to negotiate a reduced fine with whatever government agency placed the lien on the property as they'd usually rather have it paid for up front than to have to go through the hassle of putting it to auction. 

Don,I use Kathy Stewart's team with Equity Title Agency at 32nd St and Lincoln for all my title/escrow needs.

Looking through our listing agency agreement with him I don't see any verbiage that mentions the ability to sign on his behalf.Has anyone experienced this?

Sometimes people forget that we are human beings with families to support.Do have a buyer's agency agreement or not is an interesting question for which there are countless possible answers.

Maybe seek employment with a PM company, residential remodeler, real estate agency? 

The question is how do you treat and report a sale, exchange and subsequent purchase when the legal ownership differs from how you have been treating and reporting it for income tax purposes and would the IRS or state audit agency agree with that. 

I am also employeed by a government agency as an accountant/auditor, a field some day will like to leave behind :).