Help us figure a way to get this house, restore it, and put people in there who will appreciate it.

Eventually I'd like to do a conventional refi for the two rental properties and apply for the one-time restoration of entitlement.

That is not a bad thing if your end result is an awesome 1800s restored home, but that might not be your goal.Your buyer might want that 1800s restored home and you might not have it if you make it modern.  

Maybe Trump being a real estate investor will get rid of these stupid rules that hold investors back from restoring neighborhoods. 

I'm a restoration contractor.

A landlord who does will never restore that relationship.

I remember you saying that you were doing a lot of good reading and it's a good one to add to the list.On top of starting to get pricing for local estimates, you can start using your visits to properties to make room by room checklists so when you walk a property you'll get better and better at notation items to help with your estimating and the creation of your scope of work.You might want to start checking out suppliers - don't forget to familiarize yourself with some of the used building suppliers in your area - Restore, etc.  

Hi,I'm looking for general contractor for the ~1600 sq ft plus finished basement house which would require total gut down restoration...

Thank them for choosing your property, let them know you are glad to have them and want to keep them, then add that restoring the lawn and interior molding will be real costs for you that are not normal wear and tear, and must be paid by the tenant.

I heard that there's a large retail development planned, brand new schools, and someone put quite an investment into restoring the old mills for the Mill and Main project.