Any half savvy tenant can find a lawyer to represent them on contingency and you WILL get a judgement against you for $5-$10K, easy.

I would suggest spending $150 or so and getting a title report from a local title companyMy guess is that it will come back with several liens/judgements and other title issues that most of which will only be wiped out by a foreclosureAlso keep in mind that with a property that has been vacant for 6-7 years, most of the systems will need to be replaced. 

The next time someone has a Solo 401k and gets sued thinking all plans are the same after reading your comment you will be partly responsible for any judgement they face that results in having their Solo funds stolen.  

If you want tax lien information or any other liens or judgements you need to go to the county clerks office in Borough Hall and search on their computers. 3) Streeteasy is a free source for sales data and pics of properties.

It is a judgement call.

If the house is in a lengthy foreclosure process and the judgement amount (what would have to be paid to bank to buy house) is too high, I don't spend the time chasing down the owner.

Hunter Thompson's book is also fantastic. 8-20 units may end up being too small to justify syndicating due to legal costs, but once you read the books you'll get a better feel/judgement for that. 

We have a few title companies that charge around $325.00 per home search (I know Title Companies do a great job and more work goes into searching homes than just searching for liens and judgements).

And like magic, the moment discussed with non-paying tenants of there options, to either come current, make a mutual agreement to surrender unit and part ways, OR that we would file suite, sue them to get a judgement, than file for motion of discovery to seize assets like bank accounts, autos, crypto, whatever, and garnish wages, all but universally people would say "you can do that?"

I'd get a judgement, wait a few years 'till the kid got some assets, and then 'surprise' him with his debt plus interest......