This is a classic pre-probate, distress sale situation.There may be a number of hurdles that could pose challenges.One is a lack of a will.

With HOAs you just don't control your destiny and it is not wise to build a business model under the assumption you hope for good neighbors and lacking condo assoc.  

That said, lack of zoning knowledge and taking a lackadaisical attitude toward permitting indicates to me that she doesn't work with investors very often.  

There really isn't a reason to lack knowledge now.

So their lack of response is not that big of a deal.  

A market bubble has certain characteristics- lack of sustainability, flow of cheap money and a certain mass recklessness (what Alan Greenspan termed "irrational exuberance") that won't always apply to more general peaks and troughs.

Even so, I still understand the lack of resources, jobs, community development, and crime that consumes this area.

There are a whole lot of factors such as age, tax bracket now and in retirement, account value, investment goals, expected return....A point I frequently make to help folks clarify their understanding is that investing in real estate with qualified funds such as an IRA or 401k is entirely different from investing in real estate with after tax funds, and comparing the two is comparing apples and oranges as a result.The better comparison is how an IRA invested in real estate compares to an IRA invested in traditional assets such as stocks.  

If an agent is embarrassed to make any offer, they are not a strong agent and lack self esteem. 

They are unable to help.We have been unable to refi to lower rates due to credit and lack of a co-signer.