In that case, I'd look no further than BP - there are about 20 of us here that specialize in RE.Both hourly rates and advisory packages are common.

You see the common routine for realtors, is empty the house and run as many people through there, as possible.

A real estate professional is one who:(1)works 750 hours or more in a real estate trade or business in which the individual has at least 5% equity and materially participates, and(2)more than half of the services that the individual provides are in a real estate trade or business in which the individual has at least 5% equity and materially participates.For your common, non-equity W-2 employee who works full time, this makes it not impossible to qualify as an RE pro, but highly improbable, as your average full-time employee works around 2,000 hours in a year, give or take. 

The only common exception is when people happen to sell to someone they know.

That is pretty common. 3.

If the neighbors do call the sheriff, is it common to get away with a warning first? 

Hi there,I'm currently in Vancouver, BC staying with my common-law partner.

“Buy” the property from the homeowner at current market price, but let them continue to live there and offer continued support to get the house up to common standards, and keep it that way.Establish minimum standards referencing those used to obtain FHA lending.Probably worth a professional home inspection if it has been more than 6 years since the last.Build a step by step scope of work and schedule that brings the house up to common standards.Schedule “check-up” walk throughs after year 1, year 3, and every 3 years after that.Ideally the resident of the property will carry the note, or a combination of a smaller loan from a bank to cover a chunk of cash if needed.Establish the purchase price at the beginning of the relationship based on current market value.

Its pretty common to have to put 10% down (although I've seen this be has high as 20%).Things to watch out for:- Don't get caught up in a bidding war.

The old social worker in me thought drive by shooting, unfortunately common in this neighborhood.