I think there are two maybe 3 ways to look at this in my mind.  1) you go into it and bring it all up to modern standards but using that old charm to basically take what is there bring it up to modern standards and rent it out essentially I'm thinking cocktail bar or something trendy like that.2) most banks are on really good centrally located real estate if this is true, then I'd consider it for the dirt, plan to scrape the lot and go vertical with whatever the highest and best use is.3) a kind of combo of the two, if the lot is in a good location and its doable, pull the vaults or other "character pieces" out of the building, scrape the lot, and build whatever is best suited for the site there, but incorporate those historical pieces into the final designs.Is the site near a major retail area? 

Hi Wilson Lau, Thanks for the information and your perspective.

I definitely ended up passing on this "deal" based on the red flags.

I also understand typically the lease is between the property owner and the tenants. 

Visit the property and learn about various renovation stages, gain insights from our experienced investors / speaker, and learn strategies for evaluating deals, managing budgets, and maximizing ROI.What to expect:Property walkthroughsReview before photos and discuss transformation plansDive into real deal numbers—costs, profits, and challengesNetworking with industry prosOpen Q&A session to ask anything about the process

You're totally right—making a schedule with all the important dates on it is very helpful!

@Carter Mayberry  Just commenting on the "free up my DTI" part. 

I've sent letters to the owner on tax roll.

Quote from @Brandon Croucier: The loans are available but nobody wants to do them.There always seems to be something wrong with the properties, as lenders we just can't make enough $ for our time.9/10 Borrowers also complain about the "excessive fees" for the loan amount.If you are okay with paying 8k in closing costs then the loan is available. 

Since this is my first go around - I'd really appreciate advice on the following:- any references on lawyers /firms to work with to go through the Barment and foreclosure process without breaking the bank.- Ball park ranges - what can I expect the cost of this process to be?