In addition, you can always look to Lease Option a property FROM the owner, and Lease Option the same property to your Tenant Buyer.

Was really only looking for additional information that some of these senior landlords may have gathered throughout their years. 

Most walk because they cannot see the opportunity.

In addition to the podcast, blogs, and forums, I found the BP books to be super helpful and easy to digest: http://biggerpockets.com/books and there's also a free intro video course that has a lot of the same material as the Book on Rental Property Investing: https://www.biggerpockets.com/courses/a-beginners-introduction-to-real-estate-investing

He estimates to spend an additional $58k over the next 10 years for maintenance and capital improvements. 

This is where if you are gonna be a salesman,you need to use your powers of persuasion.Find their pressure points and emphasize you are there to alleviate those pressures.Take control of the negotiations by gently reminding them that you want to buy but can move on to the next deal at anytime.You have to make them worry that if they don't cooperate and comply with your contingencies,you will walk on them.Why are they selling?

Are you in need of a boost to help give you additional means to pay your car bill, education loans, credit card debt, etc.?

If, at the end of the lease (or on month to month), then we can talk about walking the property & deducting what's necessary from the security deposit, then starting over with new sec dep and new lease with just her on lease.

I'm considering walking away from this deal but the property is about due for a price drop based on days on the market so I want to fully explore my options before we walk away from it.

Best thing is to just move forward and get another tenant.Trust us, this will not be the first and it won't be the last time a tenant walks off on you.