The kitchen cabinets are poorly done and the gas-line for the stove comes out of the floor so close to the edge of the cabinets that the stove cannot be pushed flush against the wall.

Remember, even if they have not paid rent nor received the keys from you, they still have a valid lease so tread carefully.

But you do raise a very valid point, the type of property may help narrow down my target area.

I wouldn't be concerned of Auction.com being a valid venue for real estate sales.

Is there a site I can upload an excel file to that will check to see if the addresses I have are valid?   

So if both those numbers are valid guidelines that means that you start with very few capex expense when the house is fully rehabilitated and you finish with more than 30% after 20 years, which seems not bearable.The conclusion I make from those numbers is that the buy and hold long term strategy is not valid, it seems better to buy rehabilitated houses and sell them after 10 years.Does I am wrong somewhere ?

Provided you have a valid contract with the seller, you can record an instrument (e.g. an Affidavit of Purchase and Sale Agreement) with the deed clerk that formally announces your intentions as buyer.

Presumably due to electric v. gas?  

I have a 3 family apartment building built in 1900 and am looking to replace 1, maybe 2 (depending on price) hot water boiler heating systems, as well as a gas space heater.

I spoke to a Realtor today who confirmed that yes, the house had indeed sold as a short sale sometime earlier in the year.My question is how can this note be valid if a short sale was completed?