Of course that's satire but makes the point, to play the game, you MUST know the rules. 

I know this will depend on the original response but let's play the what if game.  

There's no real need to sit it out on the sidelines unless you're trying to play the market, which again, is better left to those that are playing with larger sums of money or the SF market. 

@James Slocum As @Roy N. said above, at this point I'd be working to rent to someone else and follow up on this side separately.Maybe a reply that you expect the son to play the costs of replacing them with a new tenant and any month without rent. 

But that could be a waiting game for awhile and appreciation is speculative and you have to play the markets right.I've always gone the turnkey route myself and loved it.

I believe only experienced investor should play the Trustee game because you are buying site unseen with any title flaws and total payment is due at time of auction. 

Being a successful small business owner taught me many valuable skills and gave me a great sense of accomplishment, but with the decline of "traditional playthings" and the rise of electronics as children's entertainment, (do you know a young child that DOESN'T play with a 'screen device' more than wooden blocks?)

From my understanding @Zena McCoy, HELOCs are easier to get than traditional mortgages generally because they don't have to follow Fannie guidelines.To play the numbers, pull your credit report and you will know exactly what the bank is using as your debt payments.

Then, she MUST play the follow-up game, because not everyone will be ready to list. 

Do I have to just play the waiting game and wait for the county to repossess it and put it up for tax sale?