A few years ago, my parents looked into purchasing some land that was located between my house and the road. We wanted this land so no one would try to put a house near us. The owners lived out of state, clear across the country, and when contacted they replied in a somewhat rude way, saying we wouldn't be able to build on the land (not physically large enough for a house according to them) and we shouldn't be interested in it anyway.
Of course, it is large enough for a house, just large enough, which is why we don't want someone else owning it.
My parents left it at that. It's now 3 or 4 years later, and I want to try again. My father recommended seeing a real estate agent, and using them to handle it. I'm unfamiliar with the whole thing, and don't know how that would work. I'm curious why they would hold onto this land. Looking in the records at the register of deeds, it seems they have been delinquent on their tax payments a few times in the past 12 years. Never for a large amount, but it has frequent quite a few "CERTIFICATE OF FORFEITURE" listed under the owners' names for the land.
Is the real estate agent the best way to go, or should I just contact them again?