Fire Damage / Probate / Foreclosure Property in Houston

[Sandeep Majumder]

Hi everyone, I have direct contact with a seller in a unique situation and I was hoping for some guidance. Her father's property took on heavy fire damage early last year, and before he could go through the process with his insurance company he passed away. Now she is taking over as executor of his estate, and she wants to work with me to sell me the property. The property is in foreclosure and she does not know who his insurance was through, but she says she does know he had insurance on the property at the time of the fire. 

My question is what would be the process from here as far as compensation from insurance and working with the lender on a payoff?  Also how could I help her find out who the insurance company was at the time of the fire?  I want the family to be able to walk away from the deal with some money, and I am hoping insurance will provide a good bit of that as I will need a deep discount on the property as it is heavily damaged and will have to be torn down and rebuilt. My experience in the past has been strictly fix and flip buying from the auction and wholesalers, so being direct to the seller and helping them with their situation is new to me. Hoping you all can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance.

[Ridge Tullos]

Whoever holds the mortgage should know who the home was insured with.  I would get the seller to start there then contact the insurance company for guidance.  Best of luck!