Buying the neighbors house??

Question

Okay guys I need your help. So about a month ago my son(who is two months old as of today 🎉) and I moved out of the apartment I was living in with my son’s father and moved back into my parents. Long story short we were both addicts I got clean he didn’t and my son and I needed a safe clean environment to live in. Anyway my parents live in the country on about 10 acres. They have a swamp/pond and across it there is a house where this elderly man lived. When I was a kid and first moved into this house (6 years ago) I would walk down the road and visit this elderly man. Everyone called him Pete, he was very sweet and fought in WW 2. I would visit a few times a month and make him cookies for Veterans Day. Well he developed Alzheimer’s pretty bad and had to move into his sons house. It’s super sad and I really feel for him, before I had my son I worked as a direct care worker and my focus was always patients with dementia and Alzheimers. But the point I’m getting at is now the house is just sitting there. My parents want to buy the property since it is attached to theirs and they want to expand. Plus purchasing the home and property would give my son an I a way to move out of my parents into our own place but we would still be close and have the family there and the support. The problem is they haven’t put the house up for sale. Do my mother and I want to write them a letter offering to buy the house and property but are nervous to do so because we don’t want to come off as rude. I honestly do care about this man. He was a friend of mine and we got close but I never really got to know his family so i find it uncomfortable asking. Plus it just feels uncomfortable. But I would love to have a place for my son and I to start over and grow together. The house would be full of love and happiness. I want them to know that but I don’t know how to relay that to them. 
So my question is basically, are we being assholes and stepping out of line if we write a letter and ask? If we aren’t how would you guys word the letter? 
Please don’t be malicious, we really aren’t trying to be shitty people or anything like that.

Answer

I don’t think it would be a bad thing to write to them and ask. I would explain in your letter that you often visited the man over the years and thought of him as a friend or member of the family. Explain that you don’t want to be intrusive as you understand this is a difficult time but wanted to reach out in the event they would consider/are considering selling the property. Tell them you have a young son and would love for him to have the opportunity to grow up in a space that has so many fond childhood memories for you. The home my husband and I currently own we purchased from a gentleman with Alzheimer’s and it had been empty for a few years. The family sold it under a Power of Attorney and honestly it was a relief to them to finally sell it because they had a hard time doing so (its an older fixer upper) and it had fallen on them to maintain it in the interim.

Answer

It's not uncommon that people will tell neighbours that if or when they are considering selling that they are interested in purchasing the property. Sometimes neighbours are happy to sell privately this way as they can avoid the costs involved in listing on the market: Agent fees, photography and advertising fees, cost of preparing a property for sale can cost upwards of $20000. You can choose to share a conveyancer/property lawyer which cuts costs even further. A private sale can also avoid all the hassle and uncertainty of waiting on a buyer. As long as you are polite and not pushy in the letter is it fine to let then know you would be interested in the property should they wish to sell

Answer

I feel it would be a little rude. he may have in his will that a family member inherits the house or something. so they may already have plans for it, but haven't gotten to anything yet. I'd say just wait it out. if they want to sell, then they'll put it up for sale and then you can try to buy it

Answer

agreed, I think it's inappropriate.

Buying the neighbors house??

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