There's no need to go in front of the ZBA for a variance. http://www.phila.gov/li/Pages/Zoning.aspxYou may already be grandfathered in, check the Zoning Archive to see if one of the previous owners filed a use registration permit outlining use as a two family:http://www.phila.gov/zoningarchive/

That said, what your outline is pretty much spot on.Buy: you might be able to get 100% financing from HML, you may not.

Their approach sounds very similar to what I already have outlined...

You're certainly in the right place, but if you're looking for specific team members to join you, I'd recommend outlining who it is that you're looking for so that the right people reach out. 

DPW outlines the following MUST be submitted (verbatim):An affidavit, signed by the tenant, stating that the unit hs been voluntarily vacated.

If something is advertised as free, realize that you will pay with non-financial resources initially, and in this case, you will also have to pony up cash to make your plan happen.There are tons of homes/pieces of land in the US and world that you could offer to me for free, and I would respectfully decline, as they would provide me no benefit, but in fact I would now have an extra liability and owe additional taxes.Before considering taking it, build a simple spreadsheet outlining all the expenses associated with moving the home, renovating it, purchasing land with utilities on it already, and then operating it.

I would be extremely surprised if they had followed the system I outlined in my book and still lost money.

Definitely book marked it to utilize going forward.My goal with this search is to identify 2 maybe 3 metro areas that I can begin the networking process as outlined in DG's book and see where the road takes me.

@Dane Peterson As @Chris Mason has said, fannie homestyle is the way to go on this deal as it allows investment properties.I don't need to tell your the process as Chris has outlined it pretty well for you.

The title company will draft up a promissory note and outline all the terms you two agreed to.