Creative Ideas to Help Owner with Vacant ADU

[Daniel B.]

I'm thinking of getting creative with my start into Real Estate investing. 

My friends live in a 4 bed x 2 bath house near Santa Monica, CA. The house has a separate vacant ADU which I believe is a 1000sq. 2 bed x 2 bath and has been vacant for a over a year. The value of the entire property is over $1.5 million so definitely outside my budget to make an offer.

My feeling is that the owner either doesn't care about the property, or the ADU (which looks newish) isn't up to code. Is there a way to work with the owner to rent out his ADU where we both benefit? Or work with the owner to sell his property (get it under contract and resell)?

Anyone have any creative suggestions?