I recommend you read it thoroughly before you proceed. 

If the seller has equity at the closing table part of the proceeds could go towards the utilities being caught up.

Because I need cashflow proceeds to start being withdrawn in 2 years and not today, I'm looking for how I can build up the empire with a larger portfolio with continued investments beyond the initial $250k now.  

These are done between the buyer (you) and Seller.The situation that is most common to find these properties are in a foreclosure proceeding, or pre-foreclosure. 

Thanks to my attorney’s efforts, the seller has backed down and has now agreed to proceed with the sale.Congratulations, I'm glad it's working out for you. 

I took no money from the cash flow (when there was any) and I never made a late payment to the bank.This fall, nearly 12 years after the bank gave me that house, and over 15 years after I knocked on that door - after evictions, vacancies, insurance claims, and never taking a dime out of it - I sold that house and placed all of the proceeds in a 1031 exchange.

It’s incredibly messy and time consuming.

My damn, it's a lot less headache to sell, buy where you are and invest the proceeds somewhere else that is winning.

Changing Preferences for People’s Desire to Live in the Metro AreaThis is likely due to the newfound appreciation for these types of community and experiential activities from the inability to access them during the Pandemic, as well as the lack of need to be near transactional retail stores with consumers now being accustomed to doing a lot of their shopping online.

Did the proceeds from the sale count as short term or long term capital gains?