HUD usually has a downloadable property condition report available online that can be helpful, although some of them are fairly cursory.

People have success at both, but I tend to see them specialize to some degree as the two strategies are quite different (for example, to flip you want it show room nice, but to rent out, the property may already be in rental condition or close to it)..

The owner is out of state already and is looking to sell the property, and thinks he can get $245K for it, which there is no way with the condition it's in.

When interest rates were constrained by regulatory fiat by the CFPB, the larger lenders found it harder and harder to make lower dollar loans and still make a profit, so they withdrew from smaller dollar lending or constrained the terms and conditions, including credit standards. 

You might also offer some financial bonus for the tenant when they move out if they leave your place in good condition and remove all their belongings.

I have laid out a rough draft plan that should allow me to acquire 35 rentals ranging from purchase prices between 65k-100k by the time I turn 31 years old with rental rates ranging from $850 up to $1300 a month (putting at least 20% down on each home with a conventional loan, depending on the condition trying to get a conventional rehab, and using the positive cash flow to pay down mortgages/use towards down payments on more rentals) I have read multiple books from millionaire investors such as Manny Khoshbin, Donald Trump, and the like.

I would then like to have the gc get the rest of the house in reasonable mechanical condition so that I can move in and take care of the cosmetics and maybe sub out some of the heavier kitchen and bath work.

@Mark Gallagher - If time is of the essence and you don't have time to do a full title search prior to bidding, and auction terms say a SWD will be conveyed, do you feel comfortable bidding on the property (knowing that is it is vacant and in decent condition, walk through done, minimal work needed)? 

Explain to him that you do not want him to live in any sort of hazardous conditions so you need to check it out.

I am not sure what area the properties you referenced are in or what the real estate market is like there, but if the homes were decent or had potential, where I am from (Central TX) the amount would have been bid up significantly from there due to the competition and real estate market conditions.