As a matter of fact, HUDs are reviewed through title companies, banks, RE companies, state departments of finance and insurance do audits, not to mention law enforcement if they have reason to do so.

Sorry if I sound bitter :) I'm not - just my area is kinda terrible in the PM department!

Send ads to Large Employers (HR departments): Let them know you buy properties because if they need to transfer an employee, they don't get stuck carrying the house.

I think it's a bad mix with residential units.Aside from that, have you checked with the local building departments yet?

I'd also phone the California Department of Real Estate to see if the agent's tactics fall within the real estate statutes and ethics of the profession.My experience has been that larger tracts, obtained by "packaging," invariably have a "hold out" that thinks their tract is necessary for a developer to move forward.

Also, I guess I would need to speak to the zoning department, if I were to rent it out as a separate apartment?

Get in the house and cut the main water pipe before the meter. call the water department and tell them they need to shut it off at the street.

Court documents, or a call to the bank's REO department might get you to the person/persons to speak with concerning your interest in purchasing the asset.You may be able to purchase the note prior to foreclosure, or purchase directly from the bank post foreclosure.I worked for a California bank back in the RTC days and handled their REO portfolio in AZ.

Now that the appraisal has come back 11k less than their asking price, it's taken 7 days, 6 phone calls and 4 emails from the selling agent to get the response "we've sent this request to the appropriate department".

If the roads were that bad I would direct the person to call the highway department.