Does such a conversion exist?

Can an acquisition help an existing portfolio? 

Ike - I'm with Doug on this one.Credit Unions / Local / Regionals are great if you have a pre-existing relationships.

Check with a RE attorney, but I've always heard that if it was existing it is grandfathered in - as far as the Code is concerned - Liability I'm not sure. probably not.....

Right now the median price of new construction homes is as close as I have ever seen it to the median price of existing inventory. 

But when I followed the link provided inside the book and entered my email address, it says "... the page doesn't actually exist".

It simply does not exist.

Yes, you will pay for commissions (which are 100% negotiable)- I like the idea of approaching the agent for the new buy (if in the same area), who might give you a discount on the listing if you also buy from him or her.There are programs out there that help you BUY before selling, they will give you a 20% downpayment and money for repairs on your existing house- you'd have to use an Agent and them that is affiliated with them and they act as the straw man lender- check out Knock.com, Ribbon, Orchard, Homelight, etc- and there are others- I'm not sure which are available to you in California.In most states, homes are sold "As-IS" anyway), and all you have to do if you cannot make repairs is to properly DISCLOSE what you know isn't working, so that buyers can take that into consideration in ADVANCE of contract, in both their offer but also to save them surprises later on which could cause them to back out- if they know in advance and all is disclosed, there's less chance of that happening.

I recently purchased a duplex in Columbus and discovered after closing that the former owner had an estoppel in place with one of the existing tenants.

Assess zoning maps and land available for competitors or expansion in existing locations.2.