Who is their architect for all plans and permitting?

There is a very strong effort to ban them completely from R1 zoned areas which has made it very difficult to apply for a permit unless you buy a house which currently has a permit in place.

Duplex Development Made Easy - SB 9 permits property owners to convert single-family lots into duplexes.

Ensure the sublease is explicitly permitted in a written agreement with your friend and aligns with local STR laws.

They couldn't get a construction loan and were constantly blaming the cities being tough on their permit process.

Another consideration is the permitting process and local zoning quirks, which can slow you down or force design changes mid-stream.

From simple rules like permits to outright bans so that is a huge risk IMHO.

However, I will always contact the owner as soon as time permits.

I need some advice from experienced RE investors.We want to buy a 6 bed/ 5 bath in a great area (top zipcode in the area).Thinking of splitting into 2 units but re-zoning permits are almost impossible in area.Ideas of converting to AirBnb or community center?

The need for building permits in the counties is limited to plumbing, HVAC, & electrical.