You can build and make money but there are very big fish already crushing that area. 

I went to Va Tech way back when, Go Hokies.

While Fannie and Freddie are big fish, they are not government agencies and I can't say if they are playing games or not.

I like how your fishing here at BP.

I just want to be an average fish in a NICER pond. 

From people who've never invested and just want to learn, to the big fish out there like Mel.

Just like fish don't jump into your boat (usually) you'll have to physically pull each court file record, open and search for both property info and name with contact info of the estate rep.And yes, if it were easy, everyone would be working probates. 

He has already gotten the cash and bought an asset with it (a fishing permit that he purchased for $18k and it rapidly appreciated to about $35-40k now) so I think he can be persuaded to just get out from underneath it, if the numbers can be put on paper and worked out in such a way that both of us are content.I'll need to find out what he owed on his mortgage around the time that we originally agreed to purchase, in order to calculate some sort of rent credit, right?

Lots of fish in the pond, as my mother used to say... another one will come by sooner or later..

You could marry one,or in my case FIL was and BIL is one.Or become friends with several I have one I fish ,with who tosses ideas at me