They did a walk through privately. 

But he has SSN, files taxes, and just sold his mother's house after her death.

@Ankit Patel yes, it does only apply to liens that the city holds, private owners of tax lien certificates get what they paid for.

I wish I could find more homes being sold by relocation companies.

when we would log over a timber track sell the track to a new owner who was looking to build but needed a year or two to get permitted house sold  etc etc but would buy from us on terms then we hypothecate the note.. but we owned the dirt free and clear .. and to do this you needed stellar credit and balance sheet .. banks were just not going to make loans because you had a note  LOL.. 

Purchase price plus rehab is aimed to cost no more than 70-75% of ARV (based on sold comps)."

If I find private money for the purchase, I would need a partner for the rehab or downpayment... how would you structure a deal like this?  

He is currently talking with an agent in the same office as the property manager who quoted him a list price that appears lower than comps in the neighborhood that sold within last year.

But if he sells you the LLC he loses the opportunity to do a 1031 exchange and defer tax on the sale of the real estate because the real estate is not being sold - only the entity which owns the real estate.If he sells you the property then the LLC could do a 1031 exchange. 

It is being sold because you can see value in the property.