My hunch is that's $85K for the garage itself before plans, permits, engineering, sewer line, electrical panel, etc. 

Or maybe you finally want to purchase a multi-family complex / self-storage facility / car wash, etc.

Driving a car is legal, as long as you follow the rules.

The rehab was complete, and we were ready to refinance when disaster struck—a car crashed into the property the week we were scheduled to refinance.

Smart investors first focus on finding quality properties—such as those in thriving areas of Brooklyn or potential neighborhoods around Manhattan—and then reverse engineer the process by improving management, optimizing rental structures, or enhancing facilities to make it worthwhile.

Thank you Eric.In addition to the rental properties, my wife and I have a paid off house, paid off car, and about $1.4m in retirement accounts, brokerages, and savings.We live in a HCOL area and our expenses are $9.5k per month even though we live pretty modestly.I set out initially to have real estate pay for at least some of my expenses in order to give me more freedom and financial security.Is your wife quitting too? 

since as part of the project you are going to need an architect and civil engineer, I recommend starting with them and ask them who they have worked with for zoning.

PLUS, you are 10x more likely to cause a loss personally from a car crash, a pet bite, an injury at your personal home, etc etc.

Inspections are typically done by licensed professionals like structural engineers, architects, or certified building inspectors.

Is there a way to make this process seem less like dealing with used car salesman or is that just they way it is?