The water was limited to a small area next to the shower.

Toilet tile sink and tub, with water lines.

Hey all you land trust junkies I just got an e mail from a title company in MO that closed a deal a few years ago and the buyer put it in a land trust they are trying to sell .. but the title company wont insure it as they claim land trust are not legal entities in MO.so title needs me to do a new deed to clean up title which of course we will do.. but just think if the sellers in other situations were not in the bizz like us and would not understand or respond or you cant find them all those land trust are dead in the water currently.  

But it's walking distance to the beach, in a great location, and had tremendous potential as a STR (which was the primary goal) and huge upside for appreciation.The only things I would rule out, and would advise my clients to consider walking away:  Major basement water problems, significant structural issues, and evidence that prior work was shoddy, or that work was done to cover up a bigger problem. 

Plumbing drains, water, and electrical were all VERY easy to run. 

Cities that require each:Soils reports ($6-7K for report & required work): Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Encinitas, La Mesa, National City, San Marcos, VistaStorm water management ($5-7K): Del Mar, Encinitas, VistaBuilding Verification Survey ($3-8K): Del Mar, Oceanside, San MarcosUtility upgrades are also a very important consideration, and City of SD in particular is enforcing more requirements than they have in the past, e.g. water fixture counts and requiring ROW work to upgrade.

The tenant received their water bill and found it was $500 when it's typically only around $30.

But per lot it will cost roughly the following:$1,500 Electrical poles, meter installation $2,000 water taps and connections$5,000 grading and land prep$8,000 septic installation (assuming a 1:1 ratio of homes to 1000 gallon septics)$5,000 down payment on each home ($700-750 / thereafter per unit)$21,500 total set up x 17 = $365,000Ongoing expenses after development would look something this for POH model: $12,750 a month in mobile home mortgages (17 x 750 for PITI on each unit) $1,900 a month in land mortgage PITI (house) $3,000 a month landscaping$2,000 a month in reserve emergency fund$2,200 management$21,850 a month total expenses $262,200‬/yearOngoing incomes after development would look something this for POH model:$27,000/month ($1500 x 18 {17 mobile homes plus house})$324,000/year324k-262,2k = 61,800 net pre-tax profit or $5,150/month.Opportunities to reduce start up expenses: Bulk deals with the government or contractors for doing all the work at once (electrical, water, land grading, septic) Trade free rent for someone to mow and landscape (turning a $3k event into a $650 event every month).

In my specific case, the tenants pay electricity & gas, but the previous owners were paying for water.

PLUMBING expansion tanks for hot water heaters, copper scabbed into galvanized pipe and proper venting HVAC - sealed duct work and properly sized for sf.