Simply put.

Simply put, does anyone have suggestions of how to dispute this with the city?

There are going to be three levels of addressing this 1) things you can simply go there and do anytime (pick up pet waste and throw it away) 2) things you can do given proper notice (enter the unit and inspect, repair damage etc) and 3) things you can only do given proper process/procedure (notice to vacate, increase rent etc.)

Conversely, the tilted ceiling will open a visible crack at the wall / ceiling joint at the far side of the ceiling.This problem can also exist if you have a brick exterior overhanging the brick ledge of the basement foundation - anything the frost can push up against.To check, dig holes outside, along the entire suspect section of the foundation - all the way to the bottom of the foundation or to the bottom of the brick ledge.

Nope.. developers by and large are not going to cash you out and take the entitlement risk for such a small discount.. maybe 500k discount they would but not 100k.. not going to happen unless you find a developer that is not very bright and has money burning a hole in their pocket.

I don’t see how he could simply independently come up with such a high price without discussing it with me first. 

So that’s what I was simply saying was a moot point on the front end discussing with a seller.

I'm assuming it works by using this non-refundable EMD or they are simply daisy chaining.Ultimately, how can end buyers be most protected from fault of the wholesaler or property owner? 

Or simply to help the other LLC pay for expenses?

Out of state seems harder to break into simply because I'm not there - maybe Hoboken /Jersey city or further like @Eric Hajdu mentioned are better places to start.Out of state is not difficult to get into.