Need a permit to rent which includes the name of the tenant, need a permit for a vacancy, contractors need to be licensed and registered with the city to work in the city.

Also check the City's online Zoning Archive where all the history of the buildings permits and prior use and occupancy usually is located.

Make sure you know what you're getting into -- have a good grasp of zoning, permitting, setback, etc., regulations before you decide to move forward.

I have tenants in a house I bought in 83 and lived there for 10 years , these tenants have been there 16 years so far THEY have raised the rent every year 40 dollars per month , he has paved the gravel driveway ($ 6000) , put an addition on the house (with a permit) $11,000, they never missed a payment , This year he re roofed the house with 30 year shingles , All improvements were paid by him .

Don't believe your contractor to re-pipe, it will cost you around 5-7k between re-pipe and repair plus permits, spend money on leak detection after the fact.

What I don't have is my own GC license so I can pull permits for the work.I am looking to find a GC that I could work together with only on my own projects.

I would go with the permits.

Basically, that's it, but it's not really basic when you set the agreement up, let the contract for repairs, agree to materials, get permits, list the property, vary the price in selling and closing the deal.

At those meetings I seem to end up talking with the newcomers (maybe it is my warm personality) and I need to force myself to talk to others lol. 

They need to consider all their costs to include zoning, permitting, materials, labor, and construction management to name a few.