You don't have to pay them at closing which is unusually 24 hours after auction but you need to take in account that you have to deal with them at a later time.2nd and most important fine print: make sure you know which position of the mortgage you are bidding.

Looks like you are in the South too - many houses here don't even HAVE garages.As far as sink in the bedroom, I actually own a rental property just like that, and while it does look a bit odd/unusual, it's not been a big problem so far to rent it out at market rates (in my case it is a 3/2 without garage).

In a heated market unsolicited offers that shock the owner are not that unusual and can leave the long term investor in a quandry.  

It's an unusually style that is in really poor condition and we would like to save it it.

It is a very unusual situation you are currently in. 

A Realtor is not necessary to close a transaction, but for newbies, they are often helpful to have engaged in the process as they can flag unusual items in the sales agreement.Is the seller using a standard sales agreement or do they have something they made up or pulled off the internet?   

I have had a three tenants contact me about making partial payments on the first but all will pay in full on or before the 15th due to unusual expenses or reduced hours from the stay-at-home order.

So then my offer was not enough to cover his HELOC, which he assumed would be 'forgiven', even though he did not even tell his mortgage company he was getting it.)I would think it would be very unusual for a mortgage holder to consider a short sale offer that included assignment, and no ability for the potential buyer to close. 

I don't agree with this, but I really don't see the value in an unusually long lease either.

A .6 acre lot is not unusual and Atlanta is hilly and full of trees so a wooded lot is also very common.