I have come to the conclusion that this is a waste of time searching for deals on the open market, and that before you get into the multifamily business, you need to get educated to become credible, start a relationship building business with the players in the area, and a start a marketing business that directly reaches out to the owners of these properties - to break bread with them and share your goals.  

A couple other options would be section 8 as well as looking for non rent control areas/buildings with major upside in rents.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good luckPaul

She finally has gotten it semi controlled and is just no trying to sell and get out of it...

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good luckPaul

I owned or controlled several hundred homes in the inner city at one point and I watched a lot of my single mom renters so well...until they lost a job.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good luckPaul

, so the brother doesn't have this money tied up too long...if you have a principal-only loan, you will have paid down the loan significantly after 10 years, and can probably re-finance the balance; you'll have a good amount of equity in the property after 10 years (or whatever you negotiate) of renting it for positive cash-flow.Lastly, it looks like you're looking to buy for cash, essentially, when perhaps you should consider leverage - you could probably control this property for $5,000-10,000, which would provide some cashflow while building equity and enjoying tax advantages of property ownership).Thoughts, which I hope spark your creativity....best of good fortune to you.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good luckPaul

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.Good luckPaul