You're conducting business. 

@Abel this is an extensive game plan!

I am in Okinawa and my wife will be conducting the due diligence.

Depending on how extensive the work, the permits can sometimes save you(if you are unfamiliar with standards and practices) from contractors doing very sub-par work that could get you sued later.Good luck.

This means that your scheme to insert yourself into the LLC after the fact could be a violation of the syndicate's operating agreement, and by extension, a violation of your dad's LLC's subscription agreement.  

With the mortgage I can get (according to the mortgage person 3.99rate with 830 score credit) 20k gift from NY state, so I could make an extension and make the 3rd bedroom and in the future sell for more.

The problem is that since he died while living in Nevada, Pennsylvania requires a Nevada probate to be conducted first.

I've been in the CRE space since 1995 so my network is extensive. 

get a 3-6 month extension and wait to refi.

This frees you up from taking resident phone calls, coordinating maintenance, leasing vacancies, accounting P&L's, conducting inspections and making property payments to focus on higher leverage activities.