The city also states they need a permit to preform any kind of electrical repairs on a house.

Title insurance won't cover that, you need to clear the taxes before any loan can be obtained for rehab and I wouldn't rehab a place with tax liens pending, involuntary liens have a way of discouraging others to get involved, contractors, material suppliers, lenders, not to mention that taxes may need to be cleared before a building permit might be issued! 

He has agreed to help me along in my first deal throughout the process and at the closing and to provide the necessary contacts for contractors and help pulling permits and such. 

how can we avoid a lawsuit since the PGE man encouraged her to go to the doctors and that all the problems he fixed were fines (oh by the way, the items he fixed, were approved by the city as we had to get permits to install the things he found problems with).HELP!

-John $80-$85k with permits and licensed insured GC.

I have a problem though, my DTI will not permit a new VA purchase, or at least that is what I was told from my mortgage officer.

Builders are licensed, get permits and do things properly.  

Soft Cost = Architectural Design Fee, Permit Fee, Holding Cost...Hard Cost = Grading, Concrete, Rough Carpentry...and if you don't know what to account for, simply ask.this website is great in helping people find answers.Cheers.

I decided not to do the deal due to some permitting aspects that would involve dealing with the city of Chicago and potentially tearing down the work of the previous owner (he started doing a lot of work with no permits and it wasn't to code).

Here are a few to start:1) Where are they in the process/timeline of getting approval to build (zoning, permits etc.)2) What measures of control are available to the investor(s) if the sponsors don't meet the milestones needed to complete construction and arrive at a marketable project.3) If there are delays, cost overruns etc., anything affecting the profitability of the project, Will there be an adjustment made to the profit participation of the investors?