You may qualify for exemption, but definitely check it out as that could cost you way more than the repairs if you are in violation.    

Based on my limited experience attending this particular tax sale, the difference in the purchase price on the two properties would likely be pretty close to my estimate for the difference in repair cost.I am now wondering if I would rather have a property that I have to drive a long way to meet contractors occasionally, or meet contractors regularly close by. 

So if a fix and flip is a good option, then you will need ARV as well as repair costs. 

They will price the repair out also if you ask. 

My end goal is to have all the units "standard" for ease of repair/replace and quickly turning over a unit.Do you guys have plans on remodels as far as being uniform?

That will get eaten up with vacancy, break/fix repairs, eventual cap-ex, etc. 

@Addison Estes you have a tremendous advantage with your background in construction and specified repair areas, if you apply that properly you should be able to pick up some properties that others wouldn't want to touch.

That seems like an awfully low asking price for a property that needs no repairs.

Only the exterior walls and half the roof will be untouched (other half of the roof was already repaired immediately after the loss).

When the appriser go in the property ----make a note ---you have to repair that before lender will lend.