Pre-Auction Opportunity

[Cherie Sullivan]

Hi All, I may have an opportunity to purchase my first investment property. A friend of my fathers home is going to be auctioned on the courthouse steps 5/5. She is pretty desperate for someone to buy it before that , and she would like to stay in the house as a renter. The home is in need of repair as well - Tax value is at 114K. She owes about that in principal but needs about 25K in repair. So, as an possible investor what would be the best route - should we just go to the bank and make an offer for a short sale? Are there any other strategies that may work ?  

The home is in Forsyth County, Ga