They think every other deal they come across is priced $50,000 below market value2.

I've been reading several posts about where to look for deals and understand the MLS is probably not a great source. 

Get a lender, enter into contract, close escrow, enjoy your new home. if you have less than 30 days, you would need the seller's cooperation to contact the foreclosing entity to see if they will postpone to give you time to close the deal. it's not guaranteed and the lender is under no obligation to do so but if everyone wins (seller sells, lender gets paid off in full, you get a home), most lenders will provide a small window of time to get it done.

I also think I am dealing with August in general.... and as a northerner miscalculated the start of school in my head. 

BP has various tools to help you analyze your deals (rentals, flips, wholesale, etc). : https://www.biggerpockets.com/investment-calculators7.

If you properly notified the owner prior to that date and then they died after you took ownership, then you do not have to deal with their heirs.

Your time is better spent doing a deal than it is figuring how much money you might make if you did deals.

I am not a tax/legal expert, but as an underwriter on DSCR deals, I have seen many entity structures. 

I've always been curious on this one as I run into a ton of folks that did taxes incorrectly on turbotax/h&R/etc...and for the question, I think reaching out to a local CPA or to Michael above and just paying for it may be far easier than trying to deal with the IRS yourself.

I have funded a few deals outside the Columbus area.