You're getting out, hitting houses, going on appointments, and not giving up!

Her son/my uncle whom was living with my grand mother when she passed in appointed the estate has been living there rent free and hasn't paid any taxes.

It does happen everyday though, San Pedro is a market I work personally and have been on appointments to negotiate an "equity purchase" before.  

This brings out now to the second month (February 1st)The tenant doesn't move so now we need to get a Writ of Restitution and pay a lot of money to a court appointed official to remove the tenant from the home.  

Once you find 1, 2 or 3 that do that kind of lending, set up an appointment (or lunch) to talk to a commercial lender in person. 

Your company office must post hours opened, by-appointment is fine.

I'd also recommend that you make a few appointments with mortgage brokers and a few credit unions in your area.

The issue that I run into is setting the appointment and finding out that the seller wants what the house is worth or the want to wait some arbitrary amount of time.How do you screen the motivated sellers from the unmotivated ones?

I plan to call her tomorrow and set up an appointment to see the property.

Although you may be able to get great information from the local jurisdiction and its written development plans and ordinances, it will be the will of the people - either directly in neighborhood town hall meetings focused on such issues - or indirectly through their elected or appointed officials involved in the (again, political) process (planning commission and county commission or city council meeting for the purpose of considering such proposals) of coming to a decision on your proposal for a use different than what already exists.This is not a bad thing - the same emotions that drive neighborhood positions also drive care of existing properties - and thus, their and your land values.A land-use practitioner may be a great ally throughout this process - ask around among others who have navigated these waters and interview the most likely of their suggestions to find one sympathetic to your cause and not antagonistic to the political powers-that-be.