Of course we want to minimize administration costs, but we understand that these are needed.

With a apartment building you are looking for drug calls, domestic violence, and the like.Tell them you are looking at buying the building and is there anything you should know about the area.

You'd need a way to get someone appointed as personal rep or administrator of the estate in order to pass title to you.Not a wholesale type deal, IMHO. 

Find the entry/exit roads and drive up and down them, have a look at what the neighbors are up to.Friday night is when all the drug parties are in full swing. 8PM.

While you wait for the days to tick by, you should send a letter to the authority Administrator so they have it in writing of your intent, and they can schedule an inspector to go out and inspect the property.

I know the staff and administrators by name and work very well with them...so one facet of the difficulty that Patrick L. describes isn't the case here (though I can very, very easily see how it could be an issue somewhere else).

I get different answers as to who is allowed to pay for administration and transaction fees?

I remember my friends were telling me to invest there some 10 years ago and I was thinking they were on some serious drugs 

Way less drinking and drugs, investors love having less partying/units getting trashed as well as the university required monthly cleaning checks.

Go to a office supply store and get a generic lease, or have an attorney draw one up for you. along with addendum's for pets, crime free/ drug free, lead, security deposit agreement.After you look at some lease samples you'll have a better idea of what is best for your property and you, so your in compliance with state laws.