Do I approach the owner for any reason- try to see the inside? 

This deal is not going to be accomplished safely as most approach an option to purchase, your agreement could well be 100 pages or more, addressing terms of sale, how liens for advances are applied toward the purchase, your interests acquired prior to other liens filed, insurance assignments, that's not counting lease assignments, attachments of lease terms and conditions, maintenance agreements and schedules, authorization to encumber the property and to pay liens.

Sounds like a reasonable approach to me :) 

Diary entry 5:  Approaching the deadline.  

In my past 3 houses I did a buy & hold approach successfully, so I'll probably stay with that method.  

What is really the best way to approach this, thanks again I appreciate any suggestions!  

Be smart and you shouldn't have anything to worry about.Furthermore, the city is currently undergoing massive redevelopment; a new sports arena, an international bridge crossing comes soon, streetcar line downtown, and billions on top of billions put into redevelopment of vacant/derelict structures.

After networking and continuing to grow my career I got approached buy a firm that owned and managed 4,000 plus units called http://www.teamremanagement.com/ to be their in house agent for acquisitions.

No, I'm taking a different approach to my investing.

You should have no problem finding a good mentor if you try this  approach.