You don't want 50% partnership with a person who allows their investment properties to fall completely apart and run their business into the ground.If you are unwilling to wait the 6 to 9 months it would take to approve a short sale as well as take a chance of getting into a bidding war with other investors who could jack up the price to get the bank to sell it to them,then you need to do an itemized list of necessary repairs and show it to the current owner and demand controlling interest (51% or more) so you alone decide how to handle the property in the future until you can buy them out completely in a few years.

She has told me on numerous occasions that she wants to reject the offer, but every time I show up with it she refuses to let me in.  

I decided to specialize in duplexes since numerically, half occupancy is usually good enough to tide me over.

In my mind, I am looking for a partnership- someone that will work with me (which would involve a lot of teaching in the beginning), whom will benefit greatly by working numerous deals with me in the future.

@Steve HoneyI see you have put a lot of time into your presentation so I have read it numerous times trying to understand it all.

I good deal is a good deal as long as you stay out of the war zones.

If you can't handle it , look for a C class neighborhood instead of a war zone. 

If it's the typical post-war house that we have in LA, the structure does not have the proper foundation, footers or structural support for a second story, and in any event, you'll need to demo and rebuild the roof. 

Some blocks are war zones the others are liveable

Once taught on encryption/decryption, symmetries with extensive math application (numerical analysis).You next studies will now be in different entry points in RE deals.