Yes, 100% legal to ask and offer cash and come to an agreement.  100% illegal to do anything to force them to move, make their life uncomfortable etc... prior to lease end.  

And where it further improves is the investor is getting in pre-value add, or pre ARV, so they get to share in the forced appreciation and, therefore, the upside.

But in our case, where my husband will retire before me and access his funds, we're weighing the impacts to our federal taxes because we'll still be in a high tax bracket because of my income.

I have a very low-impact business and I like it that way.

Boiler or forced air furnaces,If boiler is piping wrapped in asbestos 3.

@Jeff Schemmel I recycle by forcing appreciation to the point that I have 25% equity!

Pick a dollar number that if you lose it all, you will say "Ouch"; but it does not impact your life. 

What the market is, impacts it, but doesn't restrict it. 

The other piece in the news lately is forcing banks to report transactions as small as $600.

The reason I ask is that the method of acquisition has a big impact on the financing structures possible.