I don't agree that having experience self-managing necessarily gives you all that much insight into evaluating a property manager, because a property manager isn't JUST managing your property or properties... they are managing many (often hundreds) more for many other clients, and they are running a business. 

No doubt there are hundreds or thousands of BP investors who already know this trick and can probably attest to it and add to what I'm saying, yet I think this bears sharing...There are actually quite a few tips for effective response rates when it comes to direct mail.

What I have read thus far is that these servicers “keep you in compliance with federal regulations” and it’s obvious they provide a value for investors wanting to scale, because I don't see how one could be involved with dozens or hundreds of notes and stay on top of it all.

A couple hundred dollars for a title search is well worth it.

There's a lot of REAL Estate educational platforms out there promising to show you how to invest in real estate or flip houses, so why is it out of the hundreds of people that sign up for these seminars, these educational platforms, these personal coaching sessions, etc.

I have purchased several hundred tax liens in Lake County.

Offer her a hundred cash, or two, or five, or $1000 as suggested by Chris, to get her to sign away her interest, if any, in the property.Note that since probate was not done after the owner's death, a deed from the widow won't transfer clear title. 

Mold does not look to be an issue, the rest of the house is a typical hundred-year-old home that needs updating.

generally my initial reaction to any deal like this is to;1) Ask the seller if he owns it free-and-clear...in this case I would assume yes2) Ask the seller if he is interested in getting rid of the property but keeping a monthly check3) Setup terms for a down payment and note/mortgage...maybe a few grand down and a couple hundred bucks a month?...

It claims to have a 7.5% cap.https://www.businessinsider.com/dollar-tree-closes-hundreds-of-family-dollar-stores-2019-3