I will have her review the lease and other documents.  

Make sure you have the proper and legal documentation (use a title company).You could offer to buy (have assigned to you) the tax sale purchaser's position in the certificate, this puts you in the chain of title.

Is it simply getting a real estate license and submitting an application or is it more involved?

We have far to many documented case of tenants paying first months rent and that is the last money the landlord ever receives.

I have the contact written, just debating on submitting, I was told the was a smaller one sold nearby for 250k so that's a slim margin.

If you are planning on any financing please get a pre-approval loan letter to submit with your offers.  

I wrote down the address, went to the county clerk's website and found documents on file with the owner's address.

Move Inspection Document: Here is my tenant check-in / out document.

But before the debt gets too deep, beyond what's escrowed of last and security, at some point you have to move forward with removal if the tenant cannot at least submit all rents to catch up.

Also remember if you need financing you need to get a loan letter from somebody and you can submit a copy of it with your offers.