How to buy straight from the seller

[Robert Proctor]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I’ve been looking into investment properties for some time now, and my cousin actually has a home that I believe I could get for a deal. My question is, how do you go about doing so legally, and so that you don’t potentially get taken advantage of if you’re not using a realtor. She’s had this property for over 20 something years, and the last ten it has went without being messed with much, but it is right beside my home, and it shouldn’t take much to get it into decent shape. Thanks for any advice!