Here's a new scenario

[Lennie Holland]

Actually there all new scenario's to me but I digress. I haven't read about this one any where here, so I could use a little help.

Situation: 75 year old woman calls me wanting to sell her son's house (he died 5 years ago). Her son's house (which she now owns) has had the same renters (that her son put in the house) for the past 6 years. Now she is very motivated, lives several hours away and hasn't seen the house in years. She has admitted that the house has been neglected and needs repairs.

Everything good so far, numbers seem to work, life is beautiful.

She gives me the renters name and number, so I can go look at the property. She said she would call first and tell them I'm calling for a appointment. She also asked me to report back to her how her property looked because she hadn't seen it in so long.

Everything good so far, built rapport, seller is trusting me, life is beautiful.

I call the renters to set a appointment that will work for them to look at the property and all hell breaks lose. The renter cusses me for even wanting to look at the property. Questioning how I even found the property. Renters husband gets on the phone tells me he had already told the landlord that "nobody was coming to look at the property while they still lived there", it wasn't fun. 

This landlord (little old lady) doesn't want or have the energy (I guess) to tell the renters who's in charge and I can see the property. The funny thing is the renters are not on a lease, just month to month, and I'm sure there's no paper work.

I'm actually going to drive by it right now but I really wanted to see it in greater detail.

I have a couple if ideas on how to handle this but was wondering what the BP nation thought?

[Douglas Snook]

After the drive by you will need to decide if you still want the property. Assuming you do, you need to have an other sit down with the owner and get all the specifics, maybe even visit her in person to find out the status of this tenancy. Maybe take some pictures for her as well to show her how interested you are

Then she can either decide to end the tenancy and try to evict them to sell to you or you have to decide if you want to take a chance and buy with them in there. Explain to her the issue of inherited tenants and why your offer is lower etc.

Another option might be to get power of attorney and manage/evict them for her once you sign an offer with the price dependent on how long it takes or how much it costs to evict them