Approaching Family of Recently Deceased to Purchase Home

[Jeff Meachen]

We are currently renting a town home and are considering buying it but will not be getting a good deal.  We will pay what the market is running right now though.  But....we just found out in the town home community that we live in a gentleman just passed away in an identical unit.  We are thinking of contacting the family by writing a letter and expressing our condolences and also putting that we are interested in the property.  Does anyone have experience with this type of thing?  If so, any suggestions?