My neighbor passed, what now?

[Chris Schuler]

I'd like to acquire my neighbor's unit, perform some long-needed updates, and add it to my portfolio as a rental property.

I have a condo in a 50yr old complex, and a few months back my neighbor (one of the original owners in the community) passed away.  It seems as though no one is handling her estate, as both of her vehicles remain on the property and there hasn't been anyone in or out of her unit.  Per tax records, there are no liens on the property.

I currently rent my unit, and would like to pick up more units in the complex for a couple reasons.  First, there is a father/son team that has purchased a few units, ignored repairs/improvements, and rented them as-is to sub-optimal renters.  Getting this unit for myself is both self-motivated and in the best interests of the community as I would like to improve it and drive up our community value.

Where do I start?