The square footage of the property should be available in the public record and appraisers generally go by that, at least in my market.

If they’re added as occupants instead of tenants, then they wouldn’t get to piggyback off their brother’s assured continued good rental history.If they’re added as tenants, they do NOT meet our rental qualification requirement standards, so I’m not sure how to avoid trouble there making such big exceptions … or maybe the rules are different in a roommate situation like this, since we can’t market the remaining tenant or roommate spots to the public, to move in with Tenant Alpha?

So public records of the owner may not be the actual owner.

The city has been at the forefront of making public data accessible.

Unfortunately there is no public API for the MLS due to the fact there is no nation-wide MLS but more local MLS information.

I think the general public would be shocked if data ever got into the popular media regarding how much fraud there is.

Not sure why it's legal, but it's no different than Zillow, the general public thinks it's useful and that's what matters. 

@Garrett Hawk- When you do syndications, never ever talk about cash-on-cash returns in a public forum like this. 

Does the end use design need to be reviewed by an architectural review board, planning board, fire district, public works?

That's not to say you can find deals on the MLS or these other public websites when buying a property.