I would have immediately changed the locks anyway, as who wants lock where 30 or so local preservation/inspector personnel have the key?

I want to start renovating but afraid to show up, change locks, and then learn after the fact that the original owner(s) have been there on/off.

I guess I should look at this from a dollars and sense standpoint and pull the trigger because it makes money, but I want to have nice clean apartments and not catch a bad rep right off as a "slumlord. " Lol.

Nail holes, touch-ups, drains, exhaust fans, heaters/furnaces, a/c filters, gutters, lock changes.  

ok Gentlemen @Rob Beland @Sean Ploskina @Jeremy Pace We have a assumable VHDA loan with a balance of 1.1 million asking 1.5 million sales price with locked interest of 5.22 % NOI of 177198 Total expenses 89262..you have a debt service of 115536..capital reserves of 7250..loan payment of 3k a month..95% vacancy 2014 year was income of 218657 total expenses 90738..

You earn $200,000 * (4%-3%) = $2,000 annually in appreciation by locking in the price of your home today against the devaluation of the US dollar. 

Any suggestions on how to trigger a response?

So wait for someone to lose the bid on a house that is similar to yours and say I see you bid on a house locked out one just like it right here.

The other units are locked.2.

I think I'd pull the trigger on this property too.In my opinion you've got enough slop in the cash flow to justify the purchase even if you're repair numbers aren't exact.A couple pieces of food for your frontal cortex:-Have you verified it's not in a flood plane?