I located an abandoned property that is owned by a person who skipped out of the nation.

Tim, I'd love to buy you breakfast or lunch when you have time.

So just spent the day trying out the numbers I got from skip tracing, and boy did I have a great deal of my leads turn up no valid numbers.

For example, if the lease holder skips town and the other occupants have rights, would them being named on the lease make an eviction simpler or is the only reason to list them on the lease to hold them financially accountable?

Perhaps file for a commercial “Bed and Breakfast”.

Don't skip this step - you need to know who is buying the kind of properties you are looking to get under contract. 

ORIGINALLY A BED AND BREAKFAST - WE HAVE CONVERTED IT BACK TO A HISTORIC BED AND BREAKFAST AIRBNB PROPERTY (BY THE ROOM).

Sometimes you skip the zoning hearings if what you do is "as of right".Paying the architect is most cost effective because sometimes it's not possible to meet building codes due to the way the building is constructed, so you won't waste anymore money on it.

Or pick your target neighborhoods, drive every street (or pay someone to) and write down all addresses of distressed properties, then skip trace and cold call (or text or mail) the owners and negotiate directly. 

(now for vacant properties with out-of-state owners, you may want to skip this question and just find out based on the address how much the house is worth because most likely they do not know what they are worth)O - how much do you OWE?