There is an abandoned house on my block that has been unoccupied for 8 years. How can I obtain the rights to this property. It's in decent condition and I want to live in it while I fix it up...

Buy it from its owner.

You go to the court house, look up in the recorder of deed who owns it, look at the property tax office to who is paying the tax.

If it is owned by a bank or the tax office or by someone.