This deal will be a home run if...
I found a house that used to be a bar/restaurant but the town changed the zoning to only allow single family properties in that area. If I can get them to give us a special use variance we should be able to get it fixed up, take the cash out, and have a nice cash-flow property with all of our money back. The trouble is the variance.
This town has a reputation for being stingy with them but I talked to their zoning director and he said that if there was ever a case that was likely to go through, this was the one. They are telling the current owner that he can not apply because he bought the place and knew that it was a single at time of purpose but that as the buyers, we could argue for financial hardship because no one would buy a 5100 sq ft SFR. We have lawyers on this of course but I was wondering if anyone had luck getting a hardship special use variance or tips to get one.