And there's your answer: another well-meaning person who "intended" to pull probates and market to them...but, presumable, never got around to taking any action.

I presume that's a Chihuahua you have?

To be candid, I really don't know the answer.If you're trying to buy, you're now soliciting to buy from a presumably single owner.

Also, what will you do with the $ you would (presumably) get out of the sale?

@Jason Shackleton thanks, Jason — if I understand you correctly, the concern I have with getting a loan tied to my business is that it’s a young company with relatively low revenues so I’d presume that terms on that loan would be harsher than if I were to go the personal route.

At this point, my main activity will be buy and hold investing, presumably after doing some necessary rehab.

Presumably, you will only need the money for ~6 months.

If I am not sure it is vacant, I post a notice telling the occupant to call and If I do not here from them in 5 days I will presume the property is vacant.I usually just take it to auction.

@Matt AndrewsCapital gains taxation is federal, so any strategies for mitigation of taxes due are more broadly applicable than Ontario ... though individual provinces have their own pile-on taxation on the portion of gain included in your income.Though immaterial to the taxation, I presume the mortgage is being held in an SDRSP to which an arms-length third-party is the beneficiary?

Using those two pieces of data, perhaps we can do a high-level analysis of the value of your brand versus the value of your other marketing efforts, which presumably can be replicated without your brand.