Benefits to the owner.

If I think the benefits of listing the home on the market truly outweigh an off-market sale, then I tell the seller.

If you do not plan to be an active agent and work with other buyers and sellers, then I don't think the big-box brokerages would benefit you.

Apartments and mobile home parks share the same customer base, so the impact of a national recession is that it forces more people into a rental status, which benefits both sectors.

This is a good cost/benefit question. 

Other people also mentioned Southern NH, and Nashua and Salem are great cities with a reasonably easy commute to Lowell.Definitely do your research for two reasons: 1) NH residents get killed in property taxes but there are no sales or income taxes. 2) because of that lesser tax base, NH residents get significantly fewer benefits, including unemployment in the event of layoffs, etc.

If the Seattle area keeps growing, then no doubt, Tacoma will benefit.

An additional benefit is that his income earned by any interest paid is taxed lower than capital gains.

So the benefit to the investor (aside from being a good person and helping out the elderly!)

From that point you make the decision based off their value (essentially the benefits they offer - the cost.)This is not legal advice, just my opinion as a real estate investor.