In many states including Texas, depending on the value of the husband's estate, there may be expedite processes to either get court orders that the property you want to purchase belongs to the Widow or to get the Widow Court authority to complete your transaction.

Seller authorizes Broker to hold any and all deposits made as part of the purchase price in Broker’s escrow account until closing of title.

Also, in regards to speaking to the bank: all you need is the seller’s written authorization as well as the lender name and loan number.

One is in a rural area and the local authorities don't care unless there is a complaint filed, so officially illegal, but not a concern.

I'd mail each unit and inform them of their rights take pics and let code enforcement know as well as your local housing authority (he'll be forced to bring it up to code or face violations which would later turn into a lien on his complex).

The authority of a tax professional would be valued over a real estate agent like myself. 

Make sure that in the area they're not going to expand rent control  Look up AB1506 in California a lot of tenant and tenants union groups are trying to expand rent control to single family houses, condos and post 1990s built properties https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains...Expansion ab 1506 https://sf.curbed.com/2018/1/9/16871314/rent-contr...http://www.tenantstogether.orgthis is a group that is heavily funded by political movements trying to expand housing authorities that will lock rents in different areas. 

Not every taxing authority files suit or joins every time. 

I'm an author, currently living in Jerusalem, Israel.

My lease agreement states we are authorized to start advertising and showing the unit 30 days prior to lease termination.