A quick search on Google will reveal many methods that other people use!

If it’s on a slab, duct scopes can reveal blockage, disconnects, decay, and is a great idea.Scoping a sewer line is a great idea if there are a lot of trees on the property, people drive or park where the line runs, or the house is very old.

Elon Musk's The Boring Co. grabs land east of Austin through a separate entityProperty records tie the tunneling company to 73 acres in rural Central TexasProperty records filed with Bastrop County reveal that Gapped Bass LLC purchased 73 acres in May in Northwest Bastrop.It would seem that the few dozen job postings in Austin for the Boring Co. and now the linked entity land grab East of Austin indicate Elon is setting up multiple shops in the region.  

The magic of MLS querying can't really be done within the MLS itself because the most revealing data bubbles up when you join the for sale data with the for rent data and correlate ratios of average price in a subdivision with average rent. 

Inspection revealed major issues with the property, some of which were not disclosed: evidence of foundation problem (stair-step and horizontal cracks, bowing towards the inside of the basement, uneven floors in units); basement leaks, roof leaks, 1 furnace is putting out carbon monoxide and needs to be repaired, etc. 

(My inspector was garbage but that's a different issue)The appraiser if they had noticed a damaged floor when walking through, could potentially have made that an FHA issue, but since it was only revealed when you started to renovate I doubt they would have.

Street view reveals mixed results.

So, if your earnest money was $1000, you are simply saying you would be willing to give that to the seller if the inspection reveals something really bad. 

When this is the case, a judgment search may reveal possible judgments against them.

Trip to the water meter box revealed there was no water meter, was never installed.