Decorum Questions on Letters to Distressed Property Owner?

[Mike M.]

I found a property in disrepair while driving through my farm area a couple weeks ago. I assumed the property was vacant, but the owner actually appears to still live there. I sent her a basic letter with the "I'm interested in buying your property - please call me" text, but have not heard anything back.

My decorum question is this - what's the general protocol about using what the owner may believe to be personal information to motivate them to sell? For instance, I know from a public records search she settled a property tax judgement back in 2009, and she hasn't paid a dime in property taxes since then. I also know she was divorced in 2001 (not pertinent to my effort), but received the house, which is fully paid off, as part of the settlement (which is pertinent).

I would like to use the above information to nudge her to call me, but at what point does an owner go from thinking of you as the problem solver to the creepy investor who knows too much about what (I assume) owners believe is fairly personal information (even if it is public record)?

I know this is a bit of a fishing expedition, but any thoughts on how to use public record information constructively, or any thoughts on how I can structure my next communication more effectively, are appreciated.