In light of the nature if the issues, you should be able to convince the current custodian to release your account without any termination fees, since they clearly are incapable.  

What is the procedure?

This property has been consistently rented for the past seven years and we would like to keep it (thus the long term nature of it). 

The leap to being an investor was pretty natural for me as such.  

In some jurisdictions {such has our own local one}  purchaser is able to request vacant delivery of the property under a limited set of circumstances: purchaser, or immediate family member, will be occupying the premises as their primary residence;purchaser intends to undertake significant renovations - the nature of which necessitates the property be empty {there is usually a corresponding condition that theses renovations must commence within X weeks/months of possession}purchaser intends to demolish the property.I do not know if California has exceptions allowing purchasers to break an existing lease, but there are lots of folks here who do (@K.

But now I'm starting to feel the need to understand the seemingly complex nature of all the RE options of financing and which path we go down.

I did not start out with much cash and while I have more of it now, I still retain the natural desire to save up. 

One of the many ways I use to to acquire properties that have been advertised for tax lien auction is to go directly to the property with the tax sale lien notice.If the house if vacant, I start my search for the ownerI try to make an offer to buy it or control it subject to re-sale by public auctionI sometimes make an offer to buy while doing a joint venture with the seller (I call it a hybrid offer)There are times when the owner just forgot to pay the taxes, or intends to pay them later or just buying some time until the property is sold or refinanced.If it is occupied, I just tell them that as a private service I wanted to inform them that they have rights during the tax sale procedures (I explain their rights and what options they have), many times the owner appreciates this information and may later call you to make an offer.I realize that while on my way to the tax lien property that I will be driving pass hundreds of other properties where I may see a FSBO or a vacant house that might be a prospect for me.I understand the Universal Law a Reciprocity and how it works, to give freely of your service or advise, the law says you will be rewarded sometime in the future when you don't expect it.Helping other is something you can feel good about.Being active in the field is the best way to find good deals (better than letter writing).

I'm in SW Littleton, Roxborough, where water is quite expensive.In this area, I'll bet average looks something like this monthly:$130 - water/sewage$60 - natural gas$120 - electricAgain, other areas may be more or less, and gas/electric are probably combined in most parts of the metro area.

In the wake of the recent tornadoes at northern Texas, i would like to know if there are strategies for landlords to protect against such natural disaster.