Once you have an address of a property that appears to be in distress, you can go to the county assessor to find the owner (even online in some counties) for free (if you don't value your time), or you can use a paid service that will give you all the details right on your phone while you are standing out front, owner or non-owner occupied, value, comps, equity, vacant, even their phone number.

You could use them, then fire them shortly thereafter, if you have enough reasons to do so.As far as the other issues ... how much trust to you put in the owner's words?

In some states it is acceptable to mail it to there last known address.

And search for an address. 

Can you send me the address when you get a moment?

Also make sure you have boots on the ground that you can trust and that is familiar with that area.

My strategy is to get 10 conventional financing loans in my name for the better terms and the rest will be in LLCs / Trusts. 

You can order a Demographic and Income Profile based on the facility address from ESRI.

If you are lending money for a project you open escrow, have a title pulled and record a deed of trust.

@Michael BishopI'm a believer in "trust but verify" but probably good advice in just going straight to the securities attorney for direct answers.