They're not stuck as in "there are no other options", they're stuck as in "there are cheaper, crappier options but we'd have to pack up our entire lives and deal with the other expenses/headaches that come with moving so I guess we might as well just suffer with the increase". 

It's very easy to make one tiny, minor assumption to fill in an unknown that completely changes the context and consequently the answer - I've caught myself doing this a few times.As far as the legal responsibility for the debt goes with Subject To, my guess would be that the contract basically provides a pathway for the seller to pursue the buyer for recourse related to losses they suffer from the default of the original loan, like a form of indemnification, but does not absolve the seller of responsibility for the debt.

Your goal is to plant the idea in their mind and create a situation where selling to you feels like the easiest and most logical solution for them.If you haven’t already, the first step is to get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know what you could afford if you were to purchase the property conventionally.

They unleashed pandemic handouts and loan programs that greased the economy (this was not well thought out, contributed to the inflationary environment we are still suffering from and PPP and ERP loans were flooded with fraudulent loans and benefits)These programs leveraged existing corporate infrastructure (banks and the government had little or no operational involvement). 

Basic staging with an agent usually means they give you insight into how you should:Declutter and depersonalize by removing photos and personal itemsArrange your furniture to improve the room’s flow and make it feel biggerAdd plants, move art, or re-arrange other accessoriesFull-service staging is another option if your house needs more hands-on attention.

Kudos to you for doing something to create a secondary income stream. there are 5 income streams in RE rentals, possibly six if you do things a certain way.The reality here is your model (buy box) is suffering from too high an entry and too high a cost of capital.

I will give you the common-sense answer below, but this is California, where common sense doesn't exist.A mandatory evacuation is outside of your control, so you shouldn't suffer financially because of it.

Needless to say, many parties are involved, and they all need to be established and verified, or your business will suffer greatly. 

You can shift your perspective to enjoy what you're doing, yet reap the long term rewards by planting the seeds today. 

What is that pain and suffering worth?