Even if you are very lucky, there's sure to be at least one owner who figures out what is going on and then holds out for a price that is unrealistic.

If my Mom has been paying the annual property tax, does the neighbor have any legal standing to lay claim or file suit against us?

The tenant was new to the country, his brother a long time US resident ultimately signed agreeing to pay in the event of rent default.Well, with coronavirus the tenant claims he's out of work and can't pay rent. 

It would allow for cash flow sooner and get you an established history of rental income that you could claim on your taxes.

If you bend over backwards, you are setting the wrong precedent and they will call incessantly and have unrealistic expectations for the duration of their tenancy.

If they don't make it right, I'd file in small claims against the realtor, the broker, and the seller's estate.

Spoke with a real estate attorney who said the shortcut way would be to find the heirs and have them sign quit claim deed and affidavit. 

I had my attorney handle the quit claim into and out of the LLC, it's fairly straight forward, but there are costs associated with it. 

As a first time buyer myself looking for my first deal, I'm holding off for now and hoping to see less competition and influx of buyers thinking these mortgage rates won't last long (which my lenders have claimed they will likely last for the next few quarters).

This is where it comes down to what do you want out of the deal . . . if you go the court case route then you're best scenario would be that it can fit into small claims court, they don't show up, and their business is solvent enough to handle a $10k judgment.