The only issue I have had was an attic light going out due to a bad conduit. 

It appears the desert rats like the taste of PEX and if you run it you have to put it in metal conduit to keep the rats from getting a drink of water in that desert region. 

They identified the problem--an electrical conduit to the a/c unit on the roof terminates at a junction box (that lies flat on the roof surface) that wasn't sufficiently sealed up. 

Also not allowed are PVC drain lines underground (has to be cast iron) and romex (wire has to be in metal conduit).

I have always planned to use my real estate license as the conduit to get into investing and my wife and I are thinking we would like to start going down that path.   

Can I run pvc conduit for the wiring through the chimney for an easy run?

If you’re worried about it being damaged, you can always run the extension cord in some PVC conduit to protect it a bit.

From environmental standpoint, u may want to collect groundwater samples along boundary of the property with the gas statiob to see if it has impacted groundwater as well as soil gas samples to see if there is potential for vapor intrusion.if groundwater not used, then principal environmental risk would be vapor intrusion which can be effectively managed with radon system and vapor barrier.Note that if the gas station is downgradient from your property (gwvflows towards gas station), vapor intrusion can still be a problem since vapors can migrate thru sewers, utilities and any conduits.

Loose wires not protected in conduit secured to wall in garage.

Any time you are trying to create scenarios to help yourself get property at a discount by using your license as a conduit, legal issues will arise.