Its offline auction? Normally the auction process very smooth, its only introduction at beginning then start to bid for 1st unit to the end, not continuely repeat the introduction speak. so the process very fast. And in the catalog maybe have 20 - 30 unit at the date, but it the unit was called off, or not bidder registered, then the lot will be skipped. So in the end maybe only half from the catalog unit was bidding on that day.
1, yes as long the unit was not vacant = mean not downpayment own by the owner
2, If 1 year not paying the maintenance fee, the access card was bar already, but still not vacant, mean the people stay inside very hardworking climbing the stair everyday, or the unit you are aiming is low level unit.
3, yeah, under master title, normally can be direct transfer, but there are a case, while waiting auction, and waiting loan disbursement period, and waiting for lawyer doing the paper work + transfer name for DOA take times. They are some case (i forgotten but i think i ever see similar case) the strata title was issued during in the after won to bid a unit. So the procedure of title transfer was changed immediately, so you need to consider this uncertainty may happen. As you mentioned it 2018y vped condo, now 2023 year already, so normally strata title will be issued in this kind of period.
7) hope the loan eligible you checked is the higher price you can bid, not the entry price. If you share POS let said 500K, bank said ok for 500K, in the end 550K deal, but bank said 550K cannot (because some bank need to buy MRTA and will add the loan amount) (some people even request add the loan legal fee into loan)
:v i recommend you can rent a night airbnb at that project, to play with the facilities, jalan jalan surrounding, see the environment, and try to site visit your unit at different direction etc. haha At the same time you can check youtube for the particular layout in that condo, a lot agent shoot the condo video for rent, so you can see what is the unit layout if cannot imagine via the layout plan.

Good Luck
It’s online bidding only I think. Any different in process?Loan side should be no problem because the worst worst worst case scenario is pay cash 1st( which will be very hassle but should be able to gather the funds)
About the unit, haha last time during launching got go visit before, it’s the layout that we like, know the surrounding quite well because near my house.
About occupied or vacant, that’s need to wait for site visit and ask around.