Then just sell the home to another buyer ?   

I have been considering reaching out to the seller to see if they are still interested in selling the property and just this week I found a Facebook marketplace posting from the seller trying to sell their home off market because “it became too much for her to maintain alone”. 

I think it would be better just to stay on good terms and let him know you will contact him when you are ready to sell.

Alexandria, VA is a great spot for house hacking!

We got out of condo conversions couldn't really sell any of them and transitioned to ground up development of single family homes and three story walkup triplexes on a build to rent model which is much easier for us to manage and our exit isn't a sale it's just a refinance. 

I thought you were building to sell.

Sell before it does.  

Over the past few months the landlord has been trying to sell the property but nobody has actually bought it.

If I find a seller who is looking to sell their property, I am going to get them under contract.YOU have to do some marketing to find the owners of properties.

Same with houses and the MLS.