It appears to be updated and everything.  

Most sellers will stop after the first paragraph anyway.Change I know you don't live there, "to it appears to be vacant, and because of such may be in need of repairs...and that's ok because I want to by it AS-IS."

We want to take legal action because the property does not appear in those conditions when we saw it or neither the photos they put on the MLS.

You can not count on protecting your assets any other way.Unfortunately the US system has evolved into viewing lawsuits like buying lottery tickets due to the insane rulings by courts.

So far I am aware of using bandit signs, driving through neighborhoods, and going up to the court house and browsing through records.  

So far I am aware of using bandit signs, driving through neighborhoods, and going up to the court house and browsing through records.

Anyway prior to heading to the court house i did a little research and found out the homeowner was still living in the house, and bank had been fighting to evict him for the past 7 years!

I am afraid a re-fi wouldn't be as easy as everyone make it appear to be.  

Possibly, the other part-owners might have to sign an affidavit (or something) assuring the court that they won't circumvent the lien by paying that one part-owner his share of the sale off the books.

Outside of death searching and court record searching on Westlaw, that is.