-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

What's the process of getting retro-active permits on work like this?

Are your real estate investments active or passive?

ARV 900Total reno was 170k Appraisal $399.00 Shut off valves $95.75 paint $300.18 Commeercial enzyme cleaner $72.09 Water activation fee $51.38 shut off valves $38.52 Kilz restoration primer $275.66 Kilz restoration primer $150.33 Shower tile-Master.

Now many will try and BRRR or rehab properties which you can force appreciation, again not another bad strategy and can lead to better returns but its more active and takes more $ to do.

Update: I received an e-mail today from Delta updating me on the status - the Lot has been scrapped and several other activities have been completed, so it looks like the project is continuing.

Have you talked to any social service agencies about this yet?

Unlike some buyers, I ALWAYS go look at the properties before the sale and discovered that the vacant lot had an active railroad track on it and therefore was unbuildable, and would remain unbuildable until the railroad removed their track. 

What I can share is that the risk-reward will not be worth it as a 'newbie' due to your limited capital and inability to actively manage your properties. 

And yes, they ARE actively policing it.