At that point, it was a "live for free" investment.

if this is an owner occupied property and the loan was used by the owner to buy the property to live in.. then they are by federal law able to request a 3rd party mediator to meet with them and a representative from the bank and try to work out a re pay planthe issue is many in foreclosure never follow up on this and basically waive their right to this meeting. that would be step number one get into the federally mandated mediation if the owner and the property qualify.

If a fire restoration company came out to inspect after the fire they would have deemed whether the structure was safe or not for repairs and to continue living in.Always good to do your own due diligence, but I personally think the plumbing and potential water issues pose a higher risk. 

I am looking to achieve a low down payment and renovate the portion of the home I would be "living in" over the year I am supposed to be residing there and essentially using that year to take my time with renovations as I am full time student and working full time.

Quick background - I live in Southern California and I am looking to purchase either a 2/2 condo or a small 3/2 single family house.

The reason being is this Person i never had a lease with or rental agreement comes and goes from the property and is NOT living in it..

I wanted to go down into the basement (we don't have basements where I live) but I couldn't.

Hard for a person to imagine living there. 

My wife and I live in Dublin and work in Blacksburg.

I know its not going to be on me, but I don't want my reputation to suffer.Also, the tenants husband had been living with her for 7 years with no problems before the DV incident occurred.