Of the 70 one is listed as the owner of the 6+ acres and common areas that those dwellings sit on. 

I am in the military, and that is extremely common.

I own them as tenants-in-common with a relative.

The fee would be a lot less than that too of they had just secured the main entrances and doors with plywood or something like a $200 metal security door from Homedepot...it's just common sense..not a lot of people have it these days.. 

Rightly or wrongly, I see pools as a major liability for a rental property especially in a market where pools are not common vs may be in FL where a pool is perhaps a must have.

When looking at a property for development a due diligence period is common. 

We didn't do the yard as its common in this neighborhood and the market was soo hot it didn't matter.

or carpet is more common in this area?

(Just want to  know what are the common ways of looking for deals and how offers are made)

If you are working in areas where you may commonly come across properties in this condition, work to build your network of professionals and personal understanding of redevelopment costs.