Do I need to move to an inexpensive rental property in the meantime so I can start establishing rental history on the condo?  

I have a lot of skills I can use to help out with established investors and soak in the experience they've built over the years.

Also what is a good source of information to establish value with records of lots sold, and lots on the market?

Plan on at least 25% vacancy for the first year - the property has established a reputation for being a trash heap.

I am hoping there is some way to look up the property addreses in order to do preliminary analysis and get a property profile to establish if the property is something I'd wanna even make an offer on, BEFORE I contact the attorney or executor.

If you establish trust, the business part will come much easier.

Thats simply gambling on a hunch.

With the recent ruling by SCOTUS regarding gay marriage, I wonder what will happen in States (as Michigan) which have long established dower rights?

We do not plan to move from the condo without a lease agreement established, and we are going to do this for a year to see how it works out.

This January I bought an established profitable business for my wife and daughter to run.