There is a title product that most title companies offer called an "Ownership and Encumberance" (O&E) report that just lists the current vested owner/s and all liens on the property (including taxes).

Should the monies the property owner defers count the same as cash investors, as far as percentage ownership?

I am asking about investing not home ownership.

Make sure you view the "general information" and the "certificate process".You don't need to know everything there is to know about investing but you do need to know everything about what your investing in.Things to watch out for:Minimum depositesDates for all cut -offs for money and bidsThe starting interest rate on the certificatesTypes of auctions (bid down, premiums, ect)Do you have the righ of ownership if when the redemption period is overRedemption periods*note* If you don't know the property you are bidding on, don't bid on it.

After doing research on some of the vacant properties I've found, I checked the property tax history for them and see that someone has already purchased the 1 yr tax lien certificate on these properties. Further re...

You can go to the County Recorders Office & search title documents to chain out the ownership & also discover any debt or liens.   

It would look something like this:Home Purchase: 100kDepreciation taken throughout ownership: 25kNew Basis of property: 75k (100-25)If she sold the property for 100k (what she bought it for), she would recognize a gain of 25k (100k sale price minus 75k basis).

If I create the LLC and vest title in it to the HML's liking, how and when would I transfer ownership of the property to my Individual name to be eligible for a conventional refi?

Congratulations @Erik Mazzochi and welcome to the world of multi-family home ownership.   

Thanks in advance.A separate Umbrella per LLC is not necessary unless the ownership % under each LLC is drastically different.