Buying a Property that Went Off-Market Recently

[Laleh Omaraie]

So, weird situation - I saw a condo come available way cheaper than ones in the same exact complex that I've been keeping my eye on. This one was listed around $75k while others around it were going for $125k-$150k. I tried to put in an offer but it went under contract <24 hours from being on the MLS. I've kept tabs on it out of morbid curiosity and noticed after that, it ended up back on the market, then the listing got pulled. I can't find a record of a recent sale... last sale was 2020.

I'm thinking about reaching out to the owner (whose info is public record) and/or listing agent and inquiring whether the owner may once again be willing to sell it. Some questions first:

1) Is it possible that it did, in fact, sell, but that the public records haven't been updated yet? (If so, how do I confirm my info is correct?)

2) Who is it preferable to reach out to (owner, listing agent, someone else?) and what exactly do I say? I've never done something like this.

3) If it turns out he's interested in selling to me, how can I be sure to protect myself against a hot mess express of a deal/property?