Right...1st I would say the tax sale wiped out any liens. 

I obviously want to get the best tax benefits and write off the expenses for the house and repairs I have done.

Check out the property taxes to determine if defaulted and address where bills are sent.

It's paid off, and is currently held by the trust she and my grandfather set up.

i would speak to your cpa, as you may be able to get all or most of the gains tax free if they lives in it two of the last 5 years. vs what you can get if you rent it outof course consult with your cpa for tax advise

Did AI write this post?

What do i I need to write off travel that is used to look for a property to invest in?

Do you not have taxes?

Every time you lower your tax bracket you are lowering the value of the deductions.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done was paying off my first two rentals and trying to pay off my primary.