Lastly when starting out set your expectation on cashflow, you will not get rich on your first property or second or third. 

I've written to her and tried to request *address service* on that letter since that same lien hasn't been paid in the last couple of years.I'm guessing my best course is to consult a legal professional but I'm trying to get as much leg work done ahead of time.MY QUESTION: If I'm able to make contact with any of the 'next of kin' for either party, is it possible that one of the parties can claim 'adverse possesion' and claim rights if I cannot get both entities together on the deal?

pid=1563Houston Real Estate Highlights in August(* asterisk denotes that the “Harvey effect” has been removed): Single-family home sales rose 7.6 percent year-over-year, with 5,844 units sold*;Days on Market (DOM) for single-family homes declined slightly to 49 days;Total property sales jumped 36.8 percent, with 9,978 units sold;Total dollar volume increased 40.1 percent to $2.86 billion;The single-family home median price rose 3.0 percent to $236,870, reaching an August high;The single-family home average price also achieved an August record, rising 1.9 percent to $300,670;Single-family homes months of inventory was at a 4.1-months supply, down from 4.3 months last August and equal to the national level;Townhome/condominium sales rose 12.3 percent year-over-year, with 457 units sold in 2018 compared to 407 one year earlier*;Leases of single-family homes rose 7.6 percent with the average rent up 3.4 percent to $1,926*;Volume of townhome/condominium leases fell 8.6 percent with the average rent up 5.5 percent to $1,639*.

Do we try to go to their last known apartment or send certified mail there to see if it gets forwarded?

Almost done with my last course online and only costed $400.

Check and credit card will be last on the list . 

Please click on the links, give them a read, and share your thoughts in the comments.First is a post that I feel will help not get overwhelmed with the amount of info that is here on BP:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52761-the-simple-guide-to-getting-started-on-bp The second is a post that will help get you focused with your real estate investing goals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/5868/52743-im-new-to-bp-any-advice-would-be-appriciatedThe last one is a post that will help you choose an “investor friendly” real estate agent.

Elijah Joseph It's a last resort to keep an elderly person in their home until they pass away.

As some have mentioned, yes, during a sale transaction, you have an affirmative obligation in California to disclose whether there has been a death on the property in the last 3 years. 

I put about 48k into a property over the last two years-good for equity and rents but not so good for the tax return viewed by lenders.