The basement and attic have the proper ventilation and regress to have them be habitable but should I seek a certificate from the city? 

Check out the website for each city and if needed contact code enforcement to get a current checklist for the certificate of occupancy. 

would I be able to get certificate of insurance with my company listed as additional insured-Do you have a business card with your company ?

The breakdown is as follows:Assuming a $600k purchase price on a 3-family homeTotal Loan Amount $540,000Origination Charges: $845Appraisal Fee:$550Credit Report: $22Flood Certification: $8Up-Front Mortgage Insurance: $8,856Tax Service Fee: $75Inspection Pre-Closing: $155Title Services and Lenders Title Insurance: $3965Owners Title Insurance: $910Government Recording Charges: $1034Transfer Tax: $21,345 (WOW!!!!!)

Heard Philly's one of the few decent markets that in the northeast sells the tax deed instead of the certificates.

 After you do your tax research on the property and records should give you a name, pull the death certificate and whom ever filled it out is your next point of contact..Good luck...

Once you get into tax court you can't represent them there unless you have passed additional testing and certification.

wondering if anyone has had success in working with lenders to get financing on sheriff's certificates during the redemption period.

I would not be giving them a gift certificate for dinner or making nice over the incident.Some tenants are more hysterical when things happen.

I originally visited this property in February, made the offer within 30 days, but it was contingent on certain repairs and a new Certificate of Occupancy (hence the 6 months between offer and closing).