For $100 ask to go in and look around. Remember that what you see today may not be what you get in 6 months. The $100 is the best money that you can spend. Remember if the home is occupied that chances are that it is a foreclosure or as others have said the worst of the worst.

Make sure that you have an experienced real estate lawyer!

Look online, check zillow, some of the properties listed on auction have actual condition reports attached to listing, some with detailed descriptions and pictures. You can even look to see in your zillow search if it was listed by an agent recently. You can then reach out to him/her to get scoop on condition..