If you seriously want to clean this up and are willing to take a risk, I would absolutely switch things into my name and begin taking care of the property as my own...it takes up to 10 years, but if you'd be willing to start caring for the property and were able to at least rent as a break even, pay taxes etc, then it's no big loss if the owner came back and stopped your claim.

A bidding war will break out and you’ll get $1.05.

You would likely be breaking the local ordinance. 

Your goal should be to break even or come close in the first year, then let inflation work in your favor for rental renewals and building equity.

The fire dept used crowbars to break into the condo to take the tenant to the hospital.  

If you have the time, door knocking and speaking to potential sellers face to face is they way you will break through the competition. 

If you charge some percentage lower than the local power company, your tenants will get a break and be happier.

He says "she is dealing with personal issues, her ex boyfriend tried breaking into the unit several times /sending her threats and shes not available".I have replaced the locks for her and beefed up her security in the past. 

Of course he knows something is breaking somewhere where he needs to switch course asap lol

I’d love to hear more Unless you want to Wholesale, there are two main categories that then break down to smaller categories, subsets, and hybrids, which are acquiring rentals or doing flips.