In any event, the answers would certainly allow this analysis 'exercise' to pay dividends. 

No one is in business for entertainment or the simple exercise of talking to potential sellers.

Even if your car appreciated, you could still run this analysis and find that the cash flow opportunity cost I wrote this up as a sort of mental exercise, to be aware that while buying things with cash might be simpler, it's not always so straightforward as to be the "best" route for making a large purchase.Account Closed - Did you end up immediately investing the money you saved up front by financing instead of paying cash?

Thus ends the academic exercise.

I've done hundreds.Mark,Great insight shared above, thank you.Now, as an exercise, a hypothetical question that might help someone in the OP positions: if the OP (buyer) were to loan the heir (unprobated heir seller) a personal loan with a security guarantee of her interest in the unprobated estate (including the real estate) and then filed the personal loan in a UCC filing and also against the persons credit and filed a notice against the property with such claim guarantee then would that proactive action help the buyer to fight off potential other investors who maybe circling the wagon?

That may be heresy in today's market but I still stick by it.Trying to think of other ideas, I'm not sure if this is an on-market property or not, but especially if it's not, there could be the possibility of paying the seller for an option to buy the property at a certain price within the next year, and letting the seller continue owning it through the winter, then you exercise your option and purchase it in the spring once the ground has thawed out.That's a much easier concept to pitch to the owner if they don't have a real estate agent who's basically just motivated to sell it and get their commission ASAP, but if they've had a few deals fall through because of the failed septic then even if there's an agent, maybe they'd be open to it.Alternatively, and maybe simpler than an option, would be just putting down a decent-sized earnest money deposit and having a closing date in the spring - basically an unusually long period for the closing.

I leave this as an exercise but will say my worst appreciating San Diego property has appreciated over $2k/month over its hold period. 

It’s a balancing exercise but her annual  lease was renewed recently so I’ve got to find a way to curb this conduct and terminate when it comes time for renewal unless there is a radical departure to this sordid affair. 

We have made numerous big ticket repairs and will exercise our option to buy.What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

You need 4-6 hours of sleep and 1 hour for exercise everyday.