Hi Sarah,I have a triplex where I pay the basic utilities- gas, electricity, and water- so far it isn't to bad.  

You don't want the seller to come back (after she is better) saying she was not competent/coherent at the time to make the transaction valid.

Good luck.The town certainly looks to be in a rural setting a little bit away from the larger cities.Thinking out loud - any oil/gas activity near by, crop insurance agencies, companies with an office like Crop Quest?  

Sounds like an auction site.. i know of one that does require the buyer's information to be inputted, with a valid credit card, with a small deposit.

@Steven Kopstein raises some valid points about the complexity of the arduous coop process and some NYC quirks on real estate listings.

It's not what you can see, it's what you can't see that will reach out and bite you right in the behind.The only way you can even get close to a realistic cost study is to strip the home down to the bones, thoroughly inspect the foundation, check for adequate drainage away from the structure, thoroughly inspect the infrastructure including the cast iron and/or clay water and sewage plumbing and the electrical and gas lines. 

Was the previous landlord paying for something that we typically require the tenant to pay for, such as variable utilities (water, electric, natural gas/oil, etc.)

I guess at least she's taking public transit and not running her car into the ground and spending a fortune on gas.

C4 may only allow gas stations with underground tanks.In my example, if something you are looking at is currently zoned C3 but is currently being used as a bank, you know that you can convert it to multifamily of course with zoning's approval. 

Is there no gas line or electric for a stove in the kitchen anywhere?