I'd love to utilize their expertise when assessing a property since they are local but I'm not sure what the general expectation is when I don't have a tangible property and I have not entered into contract to work with them yet.Some questions I have are: local regulations/permitting timeline, property's potential from their perspective, landscaping/amenities cost estimate (they also help facilitate this).

Partnering with local experts who understand zoning, permitting, and market nuances can help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize returns.If you're in a high-cost area, out-of-state investing can provide access to markets with better entry points and higher ROI potential.

That's not exactly an up and coming area -- I'd research who built them - can likely find that by going to the SG County Recorded Docs site or by seeing who pulled the permits during const -- Wichita has been on a duplex building boom -- look at the tax value -- They probably have that or less in it on the build - I also doubt they were built to be quality long term -- things such as the trim/cabinets etc -- they all look like the cheapest stuff a guy could buy - if the cabinets aren't oak and there is MDF or pine trim and pre-hung doors with engineered wood jams I'd run.  2-3 yrs ago for $180k -205 or so you could buy duplexes in Maize, Kechi, Valley center all day to builders that were selling them off to investors - not worth that in that area.

Beyond that, terminate the tenancy based on your lease (you should have a clause in there that permits eviction for this kind of behavior).

The solution is for people to find places where their wages permit them to buy or rent a decent place to live.

I have a deal that was presented to me that currently has some mobile homes with permits to expand.

If you are doing renovations that are more than cosmetic, you should be pulling permits and those generally require contracts because permit pricing is often based on contract value.

You're also going to need survey and engineering work to get the permits done for putting in the utilities to the buildings, flatwork and other improvement requirements around the buildings.

FWIW Its California , you probably need a permit  to do just about anything as long as you pay the fee 

What I did find is that as a builder in eastern tennessee, I could build STR cabins for less than 70% LTV so that I could effectively BRRR my way into growth without coming out of pocket for a down payment.Now it does take a lot more cash to do because as a builder I have to front a lot of money at times (land, permits, each stage of construction while I'm waiting on the draw).