His concern with going in on a deal would be the pain it would cause me and/or the property in the event he goes through a divorce. 

At the time I bought, the HOA was just formed, new, and it would be a pain to get the approval, as no one knows who is in charge yet, so they decided to go this simpler route.Many established apartment buildings in NYC converting to COOPs are done this way, with sponsors initially selling to a groups of wholesale investors.

Here are the options I'm currently booting around while I wait to close.1. sign all tenants who are currently under a month to month with a 3 month lease to let all my funds and the "new owner" feeling settle in with the tenantsa. update common areas like the halls, stairs, paint etc which will give "reason" to the upcoming rent raisesb. at the end of the 3 months raise the rents on those who need it most in hopes of either they leave or if they stay they're paying at least close to avg rents for the area if not the equivalent of the avg rents.c. as they move out update, raise the rents for the next tenants.2. 

In an attempt to work with the guy (since he had been there for a few years prior)  when he said he needed until the end of this month to get a place for him and his dogs (while threatening to make moving out a pain for all of us if we didn't let him hang until then) it seemed like the easiest thing would be to just have him for an additional month and then have him out after this month. 

I feel your pain!

So, doesnt really effect me, but its a pain for them.

Still, going to court is a pain and there is no way for her to rectify.

Thanks @Peter M.We aren't living on one side, the duplex is in Indianapolis where we will renovate both sides, we had to put 25% down since it's an investment, and we will rent...not sure if we can complete the last R (in BRRR, Refi because "Fed are raising interest rates signaling 2 more increases are coming 6/13)  so I locked it in just now! 

Does anyone else feel my pain?

Its a pain to find out the full process... havent met anyone in person who's done it.