(and hopefully participate in voting/governance)

I would assume that New York State has a website for landlords (laws, rules, regulations, etc) but I cannot seem to find it.

It's a government run program that provides free mentorship.

Specific to your question, assuming a primary residence - because you didn't mention income from said property - I am not sure loans like this are even legal anymore following the government intervention of the lending world - Dodd Frank.

Get rid of the ball and chain of far too much government, and there will be dramatically more millionairess next door." 

I have a full time government job and support my wife and three children.

I agree with Jerry, and the offer you got is a contingency contract, you need to tell others that you have a full price offer subject to financing.And, unless you did a great job on the rehab, don't hold your breath with any government loan, appraisers can get picky. 

Jay, the reason you've probably not seen surplus property sales is once the claim is made the government becomes aware of the death and then the probate is opened and the search for heirs commences and more than likely a settlement is made for the heirs to release their claims.  

I'm also not sure what you mean about having to "approve" him unless it's specifically written into your governing docs or you're a cooperative rather than a condo.  

jk ;)I sort of stumbled in to RE working for the past 6 years in bank regulation.