They were under no obligation to extend the contract past the original date.I would need more information about the way your agent handled this, but I'd be furious if my agent allowed my closing deadline to pass without informing me I should cancel the contract if I cannot get an extension. 

Physical labor and materials are not the concern, it is the re-leaseing.

Everyone is very busy and over extended which it doesn't sound like I need to tell you.

The solution is to pitch several extended family members who can help.

Beyond that making it a contingency that the tenant signs a new lease or at least has a lease that extends 60-90 days past your anticipated closing date is practical.

However, I am looking at this long term - or at least for a year or two, provided I don't absolutely hate it haha.What was interesting in the post I came across, is that the landlord only does month to month leases with the option to extend if no issues.

Most will take other factors into consideration such as appreciation and rental cap's / area / potential to extend or add etc that will be value adds down the line but will look for some positive cash flow after all expenses including Mortgage/ Capex / Vacancy etc.

Also, do you recommend sending out the post card the day the county releases the foreclosure notice or closer to the auction?

In this analysis, income stability takes precedence over job stability.A borrower’s income may be considered effective and stable when recently returning to work after an extended absence if he/she is employed in the current job for six months or longer, and can document a two year work history prior to an absence from employmentusing traditional employment verifications, and/or  copies of W-2 forms or pay stubs.Note: An acceptable employment situation includes an individual who took several years off from employment to raise children, then returned to the workforce.Important: Employment situations not meeting the criteria listed above may only be considered as compensating factors.

I just did one for an 84 year old guy, it was on his bucket list to own a home.The biggest hang up on the entire deal was he rented the same place for almost 40 years and the landlord was a total pita and won't release rent statements because he didn't want to loose him as a tenant.So Yes its totally possible but as Chris said the use of technology was difficult but his great grandson help out in a major way.