In regards to actual costs (attorney fees, revenue stamp, recording fees, etc.), you would have to speak to your closing attorney.

aren't they just $1 per stamp and any bank can do it for free if you have an account with them?

Stamps.com shows I did send that letter, because when a report is generated from Stamps.com, it's because I did purchase that stamp, for that address, at that time and on that date.  

If you find a certified Designer, he or she can produce architectural drawings for you at a lower price point and then you just need to pay the Architect to review and stamp them.

When you realize that these agents are applying for a job, you will intentionally notice things about them that you wouldn't be thinking about otherwise; their appearance (are they groomed and well dressed or are there pizza stains on their t-shirt and shorts), are they knowledgeable in the field of real estate (if your agent cannot explain how the whole process works in their listing appointment, move on), how responsive are they (if it consistently takes 3+ phone calls to get ahold of them during normal business hours, do you expect them to answer the phone when the perfect buyer wants a showing during weird hours- probably not and you are going to miss out on a sale). 

It would be legal to go around topless in NYC but 6 million women still put shirts on every day.

(Let's assume the house IS windstorm certified but the windstorm policy/certification just cannot be located: Would it just take an engineer to come out and inspect/give his stamp of approval saying that "Yes, it is built up to windstorm requirements?"

The transfer stamps here cost less for a transfer as opposed to a regular sale.

I put a 1st class stamp on the envelope.

When you finance a property or run your address through a credit pull the bureaus are stamped with that information in the record books for up to 10-30 years.I've had borrowers who had addresses that they lived at 20-30 years ago being asked about when it came up on their credit reports.so while the property is technically in the name of the trustee while in the LT it will pop up on your Skip tracer report when your lender runs their Lexus Nexus or TLO report and you'll have to explain and document the expense (otherwise = mortgage fraud).Regarding 20-25% down for this second property, thats not true 2nd homes can be bought for as low as 10% down but the lender has to believe the property is a second home and the property is 1 unit or less (no multi units for second homes other wise its a non owner occupied/investment property hence the reason you are probably being required to bring in 20-25% down its because they countered your request for a second home with "investement/non owner occupied," property."