The City may allow you to go for the zoning change using a letter of authorization (may be required to be notarized) if you have not purchased it yet. 

This is accomplished with pen and paper and a few simple lines reciting your intent (be sure to have this assignment notarized).The assignment will escape notice by your lender because it will not become a matter of public record.

Last month I made the final principal payment, got a SOM signed and notarized from him, and that was it.

that's a very good questionmy answer is many of the metric's folks use to decide what a good deal is and what is not, are very regionalized... whats a great metric in one market may not even be remotely possible in another.perfect example is the west coast buy and hold investor pulling their hair out trying to find a 2% deal.. and realizing they either don't exist or are so rare that you would be super lucky to find one.And those in other markets were the 2% rule props are on every block literally and they won't buy them unless they are at least that or much higher in some instances.So this puts investors in a paralysis mode not being able to buy ...

Illinois requires a disclosure certificate, in other words a disclosure that is notarized.

Documents must be notarized and recorded with the county.

Ensure you have a things witnessed and notarized if you have to.

Put them on the deed and get a promissory note, notarized. 

Hold up the closing and get a notarized  letter from the seller, that the lower property has a tenant and that the upper property is vacant.

Send a mobile notary to notarize and sign with the seller right then and there instead of an emailed contract?