Besides container development what LEGAL permittedways can you think of that can bring
new construction costs down 25-50%?
I'm planning to build a light warehouse :)

a lot of growth engines for such a small town. 

Let's start with a fact:  The noise level that comes with living near a rail station or tracks is 80 to 96 decibels; that's about as loud as a jet engine. 

I would still hire the contractor and work with all the necessary people like engineers and drafters.

Some questions for those with a few development projects under the belt and a good grasp of the "financial engineering".Let's assume the following numbers for a multi-unit suburban residential project:Newbuild sales value: 3.8MUSDConstruction cost: 1.6MUSDCost of terrain: 0.8MUSDPotential gross profit: 1.4MUSDSo with a 36+% EBIT margin there is plenty of proverbial meat on the bone.

Real Estate investing has always been a part-time thing as I'm a full time network engineer. 

I am a college student about to graduate in May, with a degree in Civil Engineering.

I am a college student at Oregon State University currently studying engineering, and I am trying to build my real estate education so I will be better prepared for investing when I join the workforce after school.

Inspector recommended getting an engineer to check out the foundation. 

For Los Angeles, the architectural plans, structural engineer, permits, and survey alone might cost you closer to $10K.