He specializes in real estate and from our conversation, even though he has a new practice, I believe personally that he has done preliminary RE related activities.

But preliminary title search shouldn't take a month. 

If you're not local, you could have your real estate agent handle some of the preliminary research for you.  

I found a title company that sold me a preliminary title report and agreed to record my deed.

Since you are worried about it, I would wager that you have some anxiety about what you are doing and/or the current workplace environment.  

I do not own a specific property yet, I am still in the shopping/preliminary phase.

Most banks simply won't lend on this type of stuff and will lend after permits are completed which can cost $40 k to $80 k per lot for the preliminary plat application process. 

I've heard differing statistics regarding "Young People's" intent to marry, but either way I've seen some pretty good deals already in my preliminary research. 

Once you have a preliminary plan, you can pay an appraiser to give you an opinion of value.

More bad news from CPS - CPS prospectus includes mention of “hypothetical bankruptcy”http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN13V2VMJunk-rated Chicago schools plan new kind of bond issue Junk-rated Chicago schools plan new kind of bond...X Chicago's public school (CPS) system plans to sell a new type of bond issue in an attempt to separate the debt from the district's severe financial woes and protect it in a potential bankruptcy filing, according to a document released by the district on Tuesday.The preliminary prospectus for the debt indicates the Chicago Board of Education will issue $500 million of bonds secured solely by a capital improvement property tax and not by the district's general obligation pledge.That pledge currently covers about $6.8 billion of existing bonds that are rated junk by Moody's Investors Service, S&P, and Fitch Ratings.