I have attempted contacting the owner to offer them cash for keys if they let me inspect inside and agree to leave it in a neat condition, but have been unsuccessful.

NJ just enacted the "New Jersey Foreclosure Prevention Act" in anticipation of the wave of foreclosures after the Moratorium Expires. 

I would first attempt to collect from the non-paying tenant.

Hi, All,This past weekend, an attempted robbery and non-fatal stabbing happened right in front of a tenant's home.

@Bob Ross The factors that contribute to an investment being worthwhile or not are not as complex as people think.People complicate these factors in an attempt to delegate responsibility to non-emotional rationale and maintain loyalty to the "does it pencil?"

Attempting to collect enough from the option to where his option actually covers my acquisition cost (down payment & closing etc).

Decided that we would attempt to resale on MLS since we had our crews on other projects.

Are they attempting to use the father as an undercover co-signer and should I decline the application?

All of the regulation in place is an attempt to check rising rents, which should tell you how the market has been faring. 

In an attempt to do a good deed, we allowed our son's girlfriend's father to live in our rental home for 6 months rent free, with rent starting in month 7th (rent is only $300/mo).