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Updated over 5 years ago on . Most recent reply

Account Closed
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Windermere, FL
2
Votes |
16
Posts

Purchasing a Vacant Property with Deceased Owner

Account Closed
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Windermere, FL
Posted

Hi all,

I found a vacant property in a great area and may need some creative thinking to seal the deal.  The owner passed away and has no family, per the county property appraiser office. They are in a holding pattern until any family steps forward, or else it will go to auction in a couple of years. The mortgage has been unpaid since November 2018. I have been researching and found out the previous owner has a sister that lives out of the country and I think I have found her. 

What are some creative offers I can make in this situation considering some of the legal issues that the sister may need to go through? If she wants to sell, Id like to make things easy for her and I am unfamiliar with this type of situation and purchase.

Thank you in advance.

Most Popular Reply

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1,578
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Mark Pedroza
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Sacramento/Placer ~ San Francisco Bay Area counties
741
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1,578
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Mark Pedroza
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Sacramento/Placer ~ San Francisco Bay Area counties
Replied

Since you've located the sister of the decedent, will or no will the sister has a legal interest in the property despite living out of the country.

Here's a link for Florida probate rules:

https://floridarules.net/probate/

It may be tedious after reading. 

The sister may or may not want to represent the estate as PR (Personal Representative) 

The county's PA (Public Administrator) will do their best to locate any and all beneficiaries of the decedent. If unable then the property will probably go to county probate public auction.

The main thing for the county is to get the property back on the county tax assessors paying basis..

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