Four would be more typical.Its hard to say anything about what "most" HMLs do because practices vary a lot.

Or is it usually provided by the lender when evaluating VAR?I

What you can do is buy a tax lien or tax deed (it varies by state) from the county.

@Jason Mak it varies depending on what the client wants and how long they've been with us.Most start out needing a lot of our time as they get used to our systems. 

When it took the course I already had a Master's degree in and unrelated field.

DD is a must especially in this area as the tides are changing everyday and vary greatly per county and city!

Again, it will vary from HML to HML.  

., a few years ago we were under contract to purchase a 124 unit complex when there was a fire while we were under the DD period and 12 units were damaged to varying degrees.We still went ahead and closed and it turned out OK though had its headaches as well.Couple key things to consider:- Will the seller's insurance company let him assign the claim to you?

Eviction law varies by state.

Finally, having a local attorney will help you out with reputable referrals for other contacts in the future (a reputable attorney will deal with a varied clientele, so you can reach out to them for escrow agents, real estate brokers, contractors, etc...).If you want to find a good attorney and don't have any leads, I would suggest you reach out to the Bar Association of the city you are dealing with, and ask for a few referrals.