WWYD? Old dilapidated house with older owner

[Selah Abrams]

Hi BP Experts! I always walk past an old, dilapidated house in my LA neighborhood that hasn't been sold since 1970. I checked and the taxes are paid up every year (valuation is Super low!) and it looks like it *might* be an old widowed husband there, though nobody has ever seen him outside, and there's a bunch of permit notices stuck to his door. I LOVE the street and would fix it up and live there if he will sell (if it's not a teardown!) - What would you do in this instance to broach the topic, and how would you structure an offer...seller finance maybe? I want to be respectful of course....thank you!!