You contacted the listing agent, who legally works for the seller and must look out for only the seller - not you.

its not legal to pay referral fees to non licensed individuals..

You may find he never signed the leases and they are not legally binding.

That being said, I believe a CITY is allowed to require a separate meter be installed, as I have read for the City of Oakland (link below).It appears that the Southern California utility is requiring separate meters for all ADUs (link below) though again I don't see how that is legal.

I'm local to the area and am aware of the legality as it differs from town to town.

This will help to minimize legal liability and any concerns that could arise regarding employee theft (We plan to retroactively count the RV rooftops present at noon each recorded day (every 30 days), and compare it to the park management software/bank statements as a system of checks and balances.

While the main syndication process may be identical, there will be legal nuances that are country specific. 

How much in legal fees to prepare for?

However, I'm not a licensed real estate broker, which means I can't legally hold funds in the state. 

Or better yet could the former owner just sign something legally waiving their right of redemption?