The person making the deals and talking to other folks and signing papers will be deposed and when he does he has to disclose all information pertaining to his authority and ownership. 

This is something I have heard Southern California REI Mike Cantu talk about.I have read other posts’ similar to this one, but the answers are far too vague and usually conclude with the author saying something like “I assumed the VA loan subject-to the existing mortgage and didn’t tell the lender.”

The easy way is to contact your local authorities and find out what you need to do.

The suggestion was that, had the texts been "signed" (by someone with authority to bind) they may have enforced the text message sequence as the written agreement.  

Hi,  I joined BP a few weeks ago and lurked a bit and decided to start posting (or well, a post anyhow, I don't have any relevant advice to give so I won't likely be a prolific author here).In any case, I'm a 34 y/o engineer in Portland, OR. 

You'll want to find out who the Personal Representative of the estate is.Mortgage companies never speak with third parties unless they have written authorization from the borrower(s). 

To see any of the documents I've uploaded, go to: Tools > File Place > Other Documents > and look for items with my name as the author.

If the property has already been inspected and deemed acceptable by the Housing Authority is that good no matter who the property owner is... or would I as a new property owner have to redo some paperwork at title transfer?

They are better at talking when the mortgagee authorizes them to talk to you in WRITING. 

In fact Thai authorities in one province did come out and say any foreigners renting their condos need to acquire a work permit.