If they are Joint Tenants, then it will be more difficult to "buy him out" and she will need to be involved.

Thank you all SO Much for any advice as I have heard various opinions from local friends and I find the IRS examples/procedures difficult to follow and understand.

The sale of lots are going to be more difficult but possible.

I would only work with a tenant who had a good track record, in a property that was difficult to fill, as opposed to having it become a vacant target for pipe thieves (been there, done that).

I can not tell you how difficult a challenge it might be to the property re-zoned, but based on your numbers, if the property can not be re-zoned you can not legally rent the third unit, which would result in a negative cash flow at the current price.

For properties 6+, you might be able to still use conventional financing, depending on how much equity you have built in your prior properties and to what degree you have improved the rental revenue ... but the process gets more difficult each time.

Will the tenants fake rebuttal story make things more difficult for me?

Like you said, a duplex would likely be more difficult to sell down the road, or at least would likely be sold at a lower price.

Hi BP,It's been difficult finding a good real estate attorney in my area...Fairfield County, Connecticut.Either they don't know their stuff and return my calls...orDon't return my calls and know their stuff!

Do a search on here as well as a general google search and you'll have your answer pretty much......1) Domiciliary letters so you know who is the Personal Representative2) inventory list so you can determine if they own a home3) Address and phone number of the Personal Representative4) Proof of Heirship, if there is a surviving spouse, odds are they are not going to sell the house so move on.should be enough to get your search started before going to the courthouse.You need to approach the people at the courthouse in the right way or they will make it very difficult for you to access the records.