This owner found a free lease template online that provided very little landlord protections. 

Our state licensing department provides the list of licensees for free upon request. 

Purchase price: $187,000 Cash invested: $15,000 Sale price: $259,000 I got tired of moving place to place and worrying about finding roommate, security deposits and not having enough money to deal with maintaining someone elses home.

I’m worried about: - Liability if the tenant decides to take legal action

Offer discounts for applying in a short time period or- offer a free application fee. 

Here’s the context:The house appears vacant, with a large tree that has fallen on the property.From what I can see, the house seems full of furniture and might even be a hoarder home.I’ve skip-traced the property and found that the owner has unfortunately passed away.The house seems to be mortgage-free, and I’ve identified three phone numbers associated with the son, who I believe is the heir.I’d like to reach out to the son to express my interest in purchasing the property, but I want to ensure I do so respectfully while also gathering the right information.Here are my questions:What’s the best way to approach the heir while showing my condolences for their loss?

I really believe that we live in a time where all the information you need to do just about anything is available for free online.

The calculation involves:Selling Price: $1,075,000Original Purchase Price: $355,000Depreciation Recapture: $105,300 (taxed at 25%)Capital Gains: Sale price minus original cost, minus depreciation, minus selling costs (~15-20% federal capital gains rate for their income bracket).State Taxes: Since the property is in California, state capital gains taxes will also apply.Given the multiple layers, I’d highly recommend your parents work with both a CPA experienced in real estate and a qualified intermediary for the 1031 if they choose that route.If you need recommendations for professionals in Illinois or California, feel free to ask!

Hope all of that makes sense but feel free to post with anything else. 

I'm hesitant to set a utility cap, as I worry that disclosing a specific amount (like $500) could deter potential tenants.