I closed on a new house loan several years ago and Suntrust was the third mortgage lender to wind up with the loan by the time I closed.The originating lender was my bank and they knew the builder had failed to due a pretreatment of the soil prior to building the house. the city inspectors didn't require him to do it but we knew it could come up later.

(so the bid would be higher than the original if the plywood underneath needed replacing) and the gutters are extra.

We locked our rate at around 8% and then the lender pulled it out from underneath is just this last week!!

It's the dry cleaners and manufacturers that tend to kill you.Plus if it is all contained in the soil and isn't in the groundwater that can be a big opportunity to get a property for a good price.

[side note - we saw a house, in nice area, with the backyard falling into a ravine (soil clay) - the house is in a bad situation, as it is a foreclosure and no one has bit on it in over 180 days at 92k - comped at 129k.

I have a fondness in my heart for them because my western european ancestors, when they stepped foot on this soil, were illegals by today's standards.  

I fear they will be taking a financial hit.You are in Houston where there is very expansive soil.  

I also added soil near foundation and graded it away from the house.

Once you get your "sea-legs" underneath you, such as figuring-out what I should use: LLC or a Corp?

I don't have any recomendations for books, but can provide the following from previous experience: look into highest and best use, check with zoning on number of units per land size, get a soils report, geo report, check with fire department on number of fire hydrants needed and make sure to have existing pressures tested to confirm new hydrants will have proper pressure, and of course speak with zoning/planning.