Those will be mostly investor owned, and it often doesn't look all that great, because no one cares....the tenants don't care, the owners don't care and when no one cares....it often looks rougher....more cars, more trash, more weeds, more high grass, more homes that need paint, more untrimmed landscaping, etc.Not easy to do, but you can also look at the tax records....look at mailing address vs property address. 

Then, I would start making the repairs, addressing the most urgent matters first. 

She skipped out without leaving a forwarding address although she is self employed and we seem to have her correct P.O. box address for her and her business(business does not have a physical location). 

They either want the house or they don't...any issues about that should have been addressed much earlier in the process.

You want to address problems head on.Keep in mind that extra basement storage is of value to tenants.

You can skip trace to find things like phone numbers or non occupied mailing addresses. 

I was sure to also encourage them to let me know some of things that were bothering them about the apartment and personally did my best to address those as soon as possible or find a contractor to do the work.

@Elijah Crew, not sure that most private lenders will do 100% financing, most want to see some skin in the game.

I also do look up any foreign addresses listed in rental or ownership history, and will contact prior landlords whether or not I speak their language.

I've researched old conversations on this topic and I feel I have addressed but am still not getting the badge.