For instance, I am an auditor (CPA), and the mean salary for the L.A. metro area is $82,780 for May 2016 and the mean salary for the Minneapolis metro area is $72,550 for May 2016 (according to the Bureau of Labor Stats).

I skimmed through the IRS page for determining FMV here, but wow, is that a ton of info and seems like a group of both professional appraisers or a group of IRS auditors could individually disagree on what is the correct number to choose.  

I'm new to the game, and it sounds like my confusion is spreading to the people I'm interacting with at the title companies.As for how I found out about the previous tax lien purchase I was verifying that the property would in fact be in an upcoming tax sale with the treasurer's and auditor's office.

You may get a newbie person on phone support and even an auditor who isn't sure what they're doing.  

By the way, you should be talking to the auditor or treasurer.  

If this is legit, You need financial reports to analyze the business, a system or auditors preforming checks to ensure the financials are accurate, general counsel reviewing and drafting legal documents protecting your interest, etc.

County assessor should have deed and sale history, auditor/recorded should show recorded deeds of trust.  

@Kyle Smith very odd indeed...our auditor sends me a CSV file every time I ask for data (and we have a rental registry with names and number of rental property owners).

I'm not guesstimating on the property taxes, I pulled them directly from county auditor site. 

And if you think that will fly in an IPO with a Big 4 auditor looking at the books, asset value, etc. you're out of your mind.