You'll want to talk to a local probate attorney to see how much time that could take.If the squatter is not making mortgage payments, you've got perhaps another month or two before the lender begins foreclosure proceedings.In your situation, I would approach the squatter to see inside the property to assess the condition.

Hello all, my name is Ben Latusek and I am a real estate investor and owner of Synergy Property Management. I own, manage, and operate out of the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area. I have a real passion for real esta...

The best and largest QI firms in America can have less than stellar regional or local representation.  

Cash out refi will be tough due to the price, not sure if there is a local bank you can reach out for the financing.

Most Buyers don't even know that there is a public access portal to search local listings.

I learned the drywall was cracking in October, but I'm not local to it so I wasn't checking it regularly.   

Local banks.

The challenge is, I’m not familiar with the local market—or the Mississippi market in general.Does anyone have insight into the market in this area or know of investors interested in properties in western Mississippi?

Just call a local title company, find one with good reviews, and ask them to give you an idea of the fees. 

They also have monthly meetings, site visits to fix-n-flips, some classes, etc.I'm happy to connect you into the local investing community.