Its already long distance but if you have no desire to be involved, no boots on the ground in anyway, it may be hard to make it work.

There's nothing you will be able to do unless the heirs agree to go through probate to get ownership of the property and then sell it to you.

If you talk to appraisers, we have another 20-30% to go.

He had to go to a bank and get a cashiers check.

All my peers and clients who previously bought tax sale properties moved away from the strategy a number of years ago so I don't have any recent experiences to go off of,  but wouldn't be surprised if the lead time is longer this time of year due to the holidays. 

With about 2 weeks to go in the year, Have you considered what your goals are for next year?  

I've built my business plan for 2025 to go after Cash Flow first, appreciation second, in B and C+ areas. 

Further, they are also determined by RISK, and Desirability.  

Now your fully renovated home is getting top dollar rents, you could probably refinance too since rates are poised to go lower (lowering your monthly obligation), you could open a HELOC before you move with the extra equity and use that to fund your next deal and now you have 2 homes! 

Does it make sense to cheap out over the few thousand dollars it will cost to go through a proper escrow and title process?