Of course, just because they have it as a 3 bed, doesn't mean bldg permits weren't pulled to add the additional square footage.

We pulled a permit for the renovations (we are not adding size) and we were required by the city to provide CO2/smoke detectors that are interconnected.

After Repair Value: $130,000Closing Costs at time of purchase: $2929Monthly Holding Costs: $1,370Interest Payments: $570Property Taxes: $620Electricity: $50Water: $30Insurance $100Number of months holding costs: 9Total carrying costs: $21,889Repairs $47,242 + 10% Contingency = $51,966 TASK UNIT Materials Needed Line Item Cost Asphalt Shingles Per Square 20 $4,400.00 Aluminum Gutter Per LF 150 $675.00 Pressure Wash Per House 1 $150.00 Vinyl Siding Per Square 1 $265.00 Paint Exterior Per Floor SF 100 $137.50 Lawn Maintenance Per 1/4 Acre 2 $70.00 Trim Bushes Per Yard 3 $120.00 Remove Tree Per Tree $1,000.00 Fix Foundation Wall Per LF 60 $9,000.00 Roll-Off Dumpster Dumpster 1 $350.00 Full Demo Per SF 2400 $960.00 Service Call Per Hour 8 $680.00 Natural Gas Hot Water Heater - 50 Gallon Per House 1 $710.00 Replace All Supply Lines Per Fixture 5 $1,000.00 Install/Replace Tub Per Tub 1 $350.00 Build Tile Shower Per SF 70 $1,365.00 Kitchen Sink Per Sink 1 $120.00 Bathroom Sink Per Sink 2 $140.00 Kitchen Faucet Per Sink 1 $90.00 Bathroom Faucet Per Sink 2 $140.00 Trim Kit Only Per Tub 1 $130.00 Install/Replace Toilet Per Toilet 2 $340.00 Install Dishwasher Per House 1 $430.00 Install Can Light Per Can 10 $650.00 Replace Furnace Per Unit 1 $1,100.00 Loose-Fill Insulation Per SF 100 $100.00 Wall Board Per SF 1000 $1,160.00 Exterior Door Per Door 1 $800.00 Interior Door Per Door 10 $1,700.00 Replace Window Per Window 10 $2,000.00 Repaint Per Floor SF 1400 $3,150.00 Install Kitchen Cabinets Per linear inch 240 $2,040.00 25" Vanity Per Vanity 2 $300.00 Granite Countertops Per SF 50 $1,600.00 Install Carpet/Pad Per SY 45 $180.00 Carpet+Pad Material Per SF 400 $700.00 Install Laminate Wood Per SF 1300 $3,250.00 Install Tile Per SF 100 $550.00 Permits Per House 1 $200.00 Refrigerator Per Appliance 1 $1,100.00 Range Per Appliance 1 $900.00 Dishwasher Per Appliance 1 $700.00 Microwave Per Appliance 1 $440.00 Washer/Dryer Set Per Set 1 $2,000.00 Commission to Realtor at time of Sale 7% - $9,100Offer Price: $32,000 Potential Profit: $23,044

That's not being a bandit - the use of the term bandit refers to it being against the ordinances to put up non-permitted signs.

My advice would be, if you can get a permit for a secondary suite in the basement that will rent for at least $600/month, build and rent that first.

As long as it is not a code , permit , or safety issue he should /better work within the scope of work you require 

I would have taken out all the equity they permitted without loan rate artificial increase because it would allow me to best leverage my investment.  

If you're looking to build at 1,600 square feet per floor, the project will get you to approximately 960K+ (factor in permits that need to be pulled and designs which will take another 50-100K in NYC depending on who you use).  

We scheduled the shutdown, and got the proper permits.

The money you save on the loan is chicken feed compared to what you'll spend in permitting zoning and construction costs to divide the property.