My broker assured me that they want to close as bad as I do and that there is a few days grace period if my rate lock officially expired (didn't come to that).

I don't know enough to say whether this would be good deal or not, but I assure you there is more to consider than just the back taxes.A title search would tell you about other outstanding liens and encumbrances.

You're paying retail prices for time, but assuring yourself that you'll have to trade more time down the road because of your retail price and minimal upside and exits.And it's not that time isn't worth much, it's just not worth a lot if you're just starting out in RE.

This not only makes the entire mechanics much more simplistic, but also gives investors much more assurance of performance as your interests are more aligned.

So the agent called the owner and we went to look at the other building while waiting on him.I casually said, "I hope Dan doesn't get himself in trouble taking the doors off." and the agent assured me that as long as you are "remodeling" you can do anything you want to the house.

But the whole time he kept assuring me that they were ready.

I did this to show my intent and assure our compliance to occupy the home. 

If I do find a neighbor that will give me some info and they assure me that I would be safe to talk to the owner, then I might do it.  

Before you poke holes in that, I assure you I will be compliant with regulations, and I will be ready for the due on sale clause. 

But the probability of making that money is much higher, and the conservation of capital is much more strongly assured.