You might be able to file a petition for order for spousal distribution, or a summary probate or a formal probate.Without examining title, death cert and specific facts and circumstances, it's pretty tough to give specific advise. 

In those cases, bidding requires the same level of due diligence (and title examination) as bidding on the courthouse steps.

At the risk of completely dodging your questions I wanted to point out that you need to examine your co-insurance clause in your contract.

I would go above the basic office staff and speak with the examiner/underwriter.Additionally, you can initiate a claim through the underwriter of the policy. 

I have a similiar decision to make and am leaning towards transferring it to the LLC later.My rationale is that I cannot see a clear benefit of purchasing the property through the LLC yet, as I will still have to personally guarantee the loan since I have no track record for the bank to examine.

Examine your own words.

This screams for a CPA to examine.

Maybe we ought to examine their take on what they're doing with their own taxes.

Let's examine a typical little $50,000 market value SFH that I buy here in Ohio.

If it is not a good deal for us, perhaps you should examine more carefully what you are getting out of it in exchange for what you are putting into it.I think the deal is thin.