Was allegedly a contractor, so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the work he did was not up to code or property permitted.

Okay, what you need is following: - rent roll last 3 years - approved profit & loss of the last 3 years, the last 12 month in detail - property statement (needed maintenance, shape of the units and the building) any violation/permit from the city - the complete unit mix (how many 2 bed, 3 bed and so on) - todays occupancy - market rents for the units (yes or no) - is the property self managed?

Oh and do you think I need to pull a permit for something like that?

You do your best to keep us newbies on track, and I greatly appreciate you.My offer on the short sale still hasn't been responded to, but following suggestions on other threads here, I called the city permitting section and found out that IF the extra room (if it IS an extra--not original) room is not permitted, it will cost about $300 to get "after-construction" permits for it.

Put a number in his head and let it fester.If the rehab you have is permitted, pull down permits or lack thereof for the comps and use that as leverage.

Your business may not be an indicator of RE at all, how much growth your area has is a better indicator, new housing starts, building permits is a good indicator of the market.

I haven't even closed on my first deal yet but am 8k in the hole getting my first marketing pieces together, web sites built, domain names purchased, call center set up, postal permit, printers, vanity number rented, bandit signs purchased, etc, etc. 

They are a gestapo and require ridiculous inspections and permits.

If it's on the neighbor's property that was just developed, I would suggest calling the permit/inspections office in your jurisdiction and telling them that a builder just built on the property next door and you're concerned there is an unsafe retaining wall on the property -- can they have an inspector take a look?

They required permits on the back end that weren't specified on the front end, and the even required that I contribute additional funds to the contingency after we closed.