I have 10 water front lots on a trout river in WNC with mountain views, they are cleared. i have the site permit, i have the well and septic permits.

It was taking 8 weeks for septic permits and 4 months for surveys. 

Our average construction time is about 8 months after permit is issued and we are always improving.

If they are separate, permits would have been pulled and the city will have records of those permits.  

Assessments in NJ are not done on sale, unless it's a new build or a complete renovation where the permits tip them to reassess, so every three years or so they reassess all of the properties and taxes go up most of the time.

.- Does the condo have an existing STVR permit or will you need to apply for it?

Same with permits .

I like both of your ideas so I would look for the single where an ADU is permitted or one with a dump ADU to renovate (that's best) and balance that against the purchase of a 2-4 unit.

if its only one sub it could have been an oversight. 3 years  is this because permits take so long..

If it helps, I've inserted a link to Cape Coral's permitting site below where you can check the status of work progress and inspections.