What happens to property if someone dies & no one opens estate?

[Larry Flanagan]

I know of a house where the owner recently died in the home and the neighbor found him a few weeks later.  Apparently the deceased has no close family, maybe some cousins out of state.  What will most likely happen to his house in this case?  Assume there is no mortgage to foreclose.  In my state it takes 3+ years to get a tax deed.  What will happen in the meantime?  Any way to buy a house like this?