We are renting and thinking of buying our duplex. What is the best way to make...

[IrishEyedGal]

...an offer? We would like to buy both sides. Our landlady is elderly (85) and the going rate for our neighborhood for a single family 1500 sq.ft home is about 250k However, this house has not been upgraded at all (other than furnace, hot water and roof). It's 38 years old and in good condition. What would be the best offer and way of bringing it up to the landlady?
Also, is it best to come to her with ideas as to why it's good for her to sell???

[kansasjenni]

Take it's worth (what other places are going for at the same age, size, location, characteristics, subtract what the work will cost including labor (fairly) and offer her that. If she has children she may not be willing to let go of it, if she has not hinted to wanting to sell then she probably has not intention of selling. You could just ask her if she has ever considered selling the complex and having the extra money to live on.

[funnyman_46750]

The first thing I would do is just to ask her if she is interested in selling it and if she is tell her you and your spouse would like to talk about it more and make her an offer. If she says yes, pay to have someone come and appraise it and then make her an offer and see what she says. good luck!!

[t.s]

get a appraisal done by a local real estate, they are usually free and then approach the landlady with a reasonable offer, you could just be blunt and say e.g. we are looking at buying in the area and love where we live, are you interested in selling, if she says no, ask her again in a few weeks when she has had time to think about it