You can spray paint older registers as a temporary fix. 

(Two 1bed 1baths and one studio)How it started:First when I performed routine inspections or maintenance, I noticed a common theme of temporary furniture in my SFR homes rented to construction workers from out of town.

What is the cost to you (monetary, mental, emotional, time/freedom, etc) of waiting and staying where you are? 

This could open up the front of the house some, take branches out of power lines (which you can tell has already happened a few times) and still leaves some shade for both utility bill assistance and playing in yard.This is a good idea and could work as a temporary solution.

If you push this issue, they could further file a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) and actually ban you from interfering with the implied warranty of habitability and their peaceful quiet enjoyment of the premises.

Getting discouraged all my attempts are falling through but hey number one rule is never get emotional !

Since we are owner occupying and self-managing we are trying to figure out how to handle temporary "property management" if we need it.  

Banks don't deal in emotion or work on the honor system - neither should you.

But also, you inherit the responsibility of having that work permitted once you purchase the property - and permitting a bathroom isn't cheap (I recently built a permitted 2nd bathroom as an owner/builder in my house).Having been on the losing end of purchasing a property with a significant amount of unpermitted work attached to it, I would probably just walk away - it's not worth the headache, both emotionally and financially.However, if you are still intent on purchasing the property, regardless, then once you are under contract, use your right to inspection to have a city/county inspector walk through the property with you and have all the unpermitted work cited before you lose your deposit.

If you take your time, run your numbers and make offers without getting emotional then you will find something.