Ever initiated & closed a deal with a crazy old lady?

[Marian Smith]

There is a nice one story that is "available" for rent for months at a time. The owner is/was a realtor and used to use the MLS but now she posts it on Craigslist for way over market with no photographs. She posts about once a month. It has been on the market 8 months now. Last time it took almost a year, too.
I called last April off her sign for a friend of a friend and when she told me the rent price I said it was too high. The owner said, "Well, I have a less expensive house for rent in Arlington." (3 hour drive) She lives in a retirement area so I'm thinking little old lady. She appears to have a mortgage. 100k.
My husband says she's crazy and just leave her alone. But for the right price, I would really like to buy the place. (And a vacant house is so, I don't know, wasteful, stupid?). I thought about just sending a signed purchase contract in the mail with a beautiful pen for her to sign with and a stamped return addressed envelope. Maybe with a post it note saying "please mail immediately after signing."