Nothing is better than actual hands on experience and getting in the trenches yourself.And FWIW, the guy you mentioned has an instagram page that says he lost it all 3 years ago and now manages 18 units. 

It looks likely I'll need a civil engineer which I am looking at now.

Right now, I'm focused on:- Learning the best investment strategies that don’t require a real estate license (wholesaling, rental properties, etc.).- Finding potential clients who are interested in investing but may need help identifying great deals.

This has happened to me twice now, and I'm curious how others have dealt with it.

Now, the TLDR version of my previous post:"Exit Strategy" is a big word for what I am trying to do: acquiring a modest home in rural Arizona at a cost of:1) About $15,000 in cash.2) Tying up another $200,000 four nearly four years at very low interest rate return.

You will want to have properties under contract before bringing a contractor out to walk the place with you.If I were in your shoes I'd have a 30 minute call/zoom/coffee with a couple of local GC's now and come prepared to explain to them exactly what you are looking to do.For example when I first got started I was targeting single level, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,800 square foot homes, with 2 car garages, that were sitting on 7,500 square foot lots, and that were built of block in the 1950s/1960s.

now it's rented out, and you're breaking even each month in rent. 

I don't have an answer, but now I'm following this.

.✅ Refinance at a Higher Valuation – Now that the building is legal and cash-flowing, you may qualify for better loan terms.✅ Sell to Institutional Buyers – Many large investors avoid compliance-heavy deals, so once issues are resolved, the building becomes more attractive to a wider pool of buyers.📌 Example:A historic firehouse was converted into a luxury mixed-use development—significantly increasing its value without major structural changes.🚨 Red Flag:❌ Waiting too long to finalize paperwork – If zoning approvals or permits expire, you may have to start over.Is Adaptive Reuse & Zoning Arbitrage a Smart Investment Strategy?

You should always talk to a mortgage broker or bank first to find how much you qualify for before starting the investor journey.