Pre Foreclosure - Paying off balance and acquire property

[Rod Govea]

Hello BP nation, looking at county assessor's office and properties that are scheduled to be foreclosed.

There is one in particular where the outstanding balance states roughly $35K.  I know the property is worth much more than that, so here are my questions:

1) Is the assessor's office required to show all existing liens or is it likely this balance just represents the 1st lien and others are existing? 

2) The county shows the attorney's office representing the lien holder (bank).  If I called them interested in paying off the balance in order to adquire, would they discuss that with me?

Please comment if you have experience in this arena and can provide insightful information.

Thanks in advance!

Rod