We plan to turn the small recording room into a small office.  

We repeatedly explained that it’s not done that way in New York State: here, you send in your articles of organization to a state office and they send back a letter with a state seal acknowledging they received the documents.

Call the offices of some of the custodians that interest you and see how the phones are answered.

I have legal background, billing, office and executive assistant type experience, and now many years of marketing experience as well.

First thing, check with your county’s zoning office.

You missed an important item: Depending on how a person does #1 or #2, it could get them: A fast-pass to the "Principles Office" for "bullying" and now there sitting in "detention".... 

Not only is it the right thing to do to help them get their legal ducks in a row about knowing SPECIFICALLY what the seller did wrong, ie did not disclose and can prove it was done for the sole purpose of deception to make the sale "smoother" but it can help you look good and have you learn how to avoid in the future (as you say "tighten up your due diligence")It sucks when agents "help" 1st time or largely inexperienced buyers long enough to make the sale and get their commission but then peace out on the client when something like this happens.It It seems like you are attempting to do the right thing which is admirable bc at the end of the day, the court system is the closest thing to a "business police" that ppl can get. 

I have been investing in Columbus since 2017, and I have a diverse portfolio that includes residential, warehouse, retail, and office rentals.

So we both kind of woke up to that and the police.

Hi @John Daniels - the mortgage company I work for, Assurance Financial, is based out of Baton Rouge and we have offices throughout Louisiana.