It's summer so there's no chance of pipes freezing.- The only other assets the father had was a paid-off truck and about $300 in a bank account.So if I were to buy the property, from my understanding the proceeds of the sale would go to the estate which would go to the credit card company, and the sisters would be freed from any obligation on the property?  

In my area that's not uncommon at all to have some cracks near windows and doors, but we see a lot more freezing and thawing here.

Do I essentially "freeze" the depreciation (don't claim any more going forward) and discontinue deduction of maintenance/utility expenses as of the effective date of being a loner?

We plan on listing in late January/February, so we opted to schedule the exterior tasks (for curb appeal) immediately (exterior painting, exterior lighting, windows), so that the exterior of the property is presentable before we reach freezing temperatures.

The above links that were shared with you are a great start, after you have read and talked with other investors in your area, don't freeze up, just do it! 

If you get added in (which you still can be), the bankruptcy court can reduce the amount of your mortgage, freeze tthe interest rates, reduce the payments, stop you from foreclosing.If the buyer wants to give the house bcack, something can be worked out.

If for any reason you have to move it out, it stays on location and is kept in basement or garage,, and if fridge has water line for ice maker,, then drain that so it won't freeze up and crack if stored during winter, smallest line can cause the biggest headache they are hard to winterize. 

If early 2017, maybe March/April, it is possible he never had the hvac system on, as the weather might not have called for it (no long periods of freezing).

I'm freezing in Indianapolis and wish I was in Hawaii!  

I have managed to get up the nerve to go look at a few houses, but I am so nervous about taking that next step, even when the numbers make sense, I freeze.