A building department may be able to report what properties are condemned, but that is about as far I think I can go.

If a city official for that department will not sign and notarize in writing what they are telling you verbally than you can't count on it. 

Augustine and has been with the Department of Defense for 19 years.

Dear BP, Seeking advice on the following situation, I am mostly a Wholesale Real Estate Investor & Fix-n-Flip Investor and don't hold any Rentals, so I have never been in this situation, but please read below, and see if anyone has ever been in situation before.There was an investor that was doing a rent-to own with tenants, (Price $36K at 500 per month, 100% of Rent went towards Price)The Investor Sold the Home to me and disclosed to Tenants that I was taking over Agreement (Rent to own) with them, And they had paid 6K so far, So, I wrote a new Agreement with the Tenants at new Price of $30K, Rent $400 Month 100% Goes towards Price, and Tenants Pays Taxes and Insurance (names me additional insured)Tenant Paid rent about 5 Months, Paid Insurance about 2 Months, and Never paid the taxes... 

What markets in DE are you looking at?  

Hope it helps. http://www.peoples-law.org/keeping-your-house-out-tax-sale Call your county government and inquire if there are any programs available to assist you.For Baltimore City residents If you have received an incorrect water bill, contact the Department of Public Works and request an information conference.If you have had a water leak, contact the Department of Public Works and request a credit.If you a Baltimore City resident, 65 or older and have a maximum income of $25,000, you can qualify for a Low Income Senior Citizens Water Discount, which may reduce your water bill by 35%.For any billing issues including obtaining credits, call the Department at 410-396-5398.If you are having issues paying your electric bill (which does not trigger a tax sale), you can apply for energy assistance.

I was working to make the case to the bank that $50K was high because the property needed repairs to the tune of $25K (got nowhere with Chase who bounced me around from one department to the next).

Dear @Shane G. :  there is a lot to unpack here.  

Check with the building and zoning department for open permits and permit history to see if any improvements you find to the property were properly done.

Also at current work IT department was busy to help me to implement bar code scanners so I found online book, learned python and wrote application for it. 3 weeks later I still cannot get spare old computer to setup and start to use it. oh, I'm a smart guy, but I cannot turn it into profit.