It is not very common for owners of these types of homes to have 70+ years of repair history on hand, let alone have delivered that to the company selling said property.Your best bet when buying a home (especially from afar) is to pay an uninterested 3rd party inspector to go through the home with a fine tooth comb.

My only other thoughts are doing a horrible job painting over flaking paint, putting plywood up painting over that and getting the bank out of our hair that way..

I'd recommend attending local REIA meetings, networking with agents, driving for dollars, direct mail, combing expired listings. 

I immediately wanted him to send me RMLS properties that he said he would comb over daily and send me links to.

I definitely plan to check the place out with a fine tooth comb as soon as I can get inside. 

I could get a HELOC giving me access to 80% (say $64k) The hair brained idea is to find the people that operate in that area in either wholesale or flipping, and try to partner with them once they find a property that makes sense numbers wise for him and is a good home for me.

This would be like me saying I'd like to do other people hair for a fee, but I don't want to get a cosmetology license.  

Yes, they still exist but they are rare now and you are adding layers of hair on the deal with questions about contractors.

Good luck with your real estate endeavors (and your hair !!).   

I am STILL finding dog hair in this property and it was cleaned thoroughly by professional house cleaners.