I'd think for someone new, that may be influenced by investor methods, like wholesaling, that they avoid pre-foreclosures where notice has been given.If you're more advanced and skilled in presenting an offer and negotiating without making any reference or even the implication that your offer will provide some relief to their situation and make it clear that it's just a deal and you're not advising them in any manner and do so by showing you didn't target a pending foreclosure, you might go there.The issue is that if the investor doesn't have cash or reliable access to cash, they need to stay away from owners who have received notice.

Before you go too far understand this part of the tax code as it may influence your strategy. you may already know this but I thought it is worth mentioning.

Also the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in the home/unit will influence the water usage to some degree. 

Every unit is different and there are a lot of factors that influence the decision to increase rents.

Am I being a bit too influenced by that?

It sounds like it's still your mom's, so I don't know how much, if any, decision making power or influence you have.

I was wondering how much influence the owners have in the transaction

The people who did this are my parents and I am doing everything I can to minimize their influence in my life, but it is difficult, especially as an only child.

In most states they heavily influence or control the state real estate agencies.

If asked, that's a different matter, now your making representations that they may make a decision on that influences the accepting an offer and with a government entity or a bank, that can be an issue. :)