If your project qualifies for EPP (Express Permit Program), then you don’t have to secure permits in the traditional way.

If we bite off people’s heads when they admit disaster, it suppresses legitimate issues with these techniques.Just for context there is a lot of history with the OP and some of us on here going back years (like the thread I linked to above from about a year ago and several others if you use the search function with his name) with him minimizing the risks of how he was structuring these transactions and some of us being cautionary, warning him that exactly what happened here could happen, which made him defensive and dismissive. 

Our local towns and rental assistance programs really appreciate those that try to work with their tenants which has helped me several times through easier permitting processes.

Keep in mind that I am selling them as affordable fixer uppers and usually only address any health, safety, and functionality issues.

They used that period of unemployment to skip paying student loans and then try to get some kind of program/hardship deferral or something aka "gaming the system".

If you do not have an accounting program I highly recommend STESSA it's affordable and Bigger Pockets recommends it.

And perhaps they realized that they couldn't staff permitting and enforcement for the program. 

But the programs you mentioned are designed for what you are after.

.- After closing, you can do some of the work yourself to save money, but the program doesn't allow you to pay yourself.You will want to buy a Class B property, maybe Class C+, in an area that seems to be improving.

During the summer months there are a few events, functions and festival type activities going on so you get a few bookings around that.