To legalize basement apartments you'd need help from a knowledgeable architect or other professional to shepherd you through this process. 

Being an Architect and Designer we of course feel more comfortable with real estate.  

Read a book or two as well.2) Pick your niche (are you going to wholesale, flip houses, long term rentals, short term rentals, commercial, etc)3) Spent 1-2 months networking with everybody in town and sharing your goals (real estate agents, contractors, other investors, title companies, hard money lenders, private equity lenders, stagers, designers, architects, etc)4) Analyze 100 deals that you never plan to actually pursue.

Remember, it's crucial to consult with professionals, such as a local contractor, architect, or building inspector, to ensure compliance with local regulations and building codes.

So, I guess looking back You can take the long road or the short road  (either have it's benefits)the long road is doing it yourself  (owner builder style) and learning how to find/manage sub-contractors/inspectors, get the best price, plan revisions to get exactly what you want, etc..the shorter road - hiring a GC with his architect who has experience in the high desert. 

I also have plans done, GREAT architect in hand, soil testing done (may need to be redone due to time limit?)

Step 2  is to talk to a builder to get a budget number on $/sf in the areaStep 3 do some due diligence on associated fees (permit fees / water tap fees / utility tap fees / impact fees)Step 4 is to talk to an architect to draw up plans for the build - have the builder involved during this process to make sure what is drawn is still within your budget.

You will also probably need to hire an architect unless you can create and submit the plans yourself.  

Our architect, engineer, contractor, Realtor sales team and investor are all over 55 years of age. 

This involved collaborating with architects, contractors, and specialists in fire remediation.