For the foundation I would bring an engineer out first before bids.

Those were the situations where I was looking for ways to make it work.Don’t come out the gate haggling, or even discussing the terms at all.

I’d even consider finishing the basement, just well enough for me to live down there, so I could rent out ALL the units.I’d save all my cash and look to refi the property in 1-2 years out of the FHA mortgage, so I could use it again if necessary.

I saw she was serious, unhappy, stressed out, and just plain sad.  

For us, still in a growth mode, we take action and figure out how to redeploy that equity into other real estate through either cash-out refinancing or selling and 1031! 

the claw back provisions will track your property even if you exchange out of state. 

You could use a combination of the move out inspection from the previous tenant and listing photos.

Also, I believe they own this property out-right, no loans, etc.I'd like to structure a deal where they provide seller's financing with a 2-3 year off-load timeline that gives them a) some cash now via a down payment and b) some regular monthly income all while I work to bring rents to market value and we both benefit on the sale and refi.How would something like that work and what would it look like?

Quote from @Stephen Magee: Out of state investor here - just purchased a duplex near Naples botanical gardens.

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