I can show you a variety of properties including a commercial building that features the height of 1980 architecture and a vacation rental tri plex.

I am looking for a quote for construction only excluding all the soft costs like architectural,engineering, permit, etc.

I graduated college with a degree in Architecture.  

Sometimes the floor plan and architecture hold up well over time, but some of the materials not so much.

Not sure if this applies to your zoning or proposed building type, but there are Architecture "Hacks" for student housing.

And city permitting, working w/ architecture, soils testing, etc.?

Both have virtually the same choices of architectural detail i.e. curvalinear, pop outs, roof line options, T, L and even U shapes can be designed to meet just about any design challenge found in "SITE BUILT" homes.Both can have garages albeit HUD MANUFACTURED HOMES do require an alteration permit if the garage is to be attached.

I studied architecture at UH and decided to go into real estate in order to achieve financial freedom and my dream of designing, building/developing new affordable, sustainable housing.

I have been exploring the idea of going back to school for architecture and/or real estate design, but was hoping to get into the field without having to go back to school.

Regarding the deck that has been there for 25+ years - best case scenario is that an architectural firm would have to draft up drawings and a survey of it, and the town would have to inspect it and find everything up to current code.