Thirdly, make sure it is near a mayor metropolitan area within 10-45 minute drive.I'm constantly looking for these types of properties to build a McMansion (2800-3900 sqr. ft.) with my pre-engineered panelized home system.

@Ekaterina Stepanova Here is a website about the nano tech facility in Albany.http://www.ceg.org/economic_development/sites/the-college-of-nanoscale-science-and-engineering/

Those are generally handled by a certified engineer inspector.

Engineers stay after hours to do other jobs like guards, mow grass on company property,  etc etc.. 

I'm wanting to build a duplex and have much of the process started as far as my builder in place, engineering underway and multi-family lot in place.

I work in Civil Engineering down in San Diego and we run into this when clients are looking to do condo conversions or sometimes like what you're talking about.I think you need to clarify some terms here:Non-conforming is what you have now.

@Kim Handelman , I would just set some goals, especially a money number wether it be cash flow or profit per deal and engineer it backwards to the starting point and take Massive Action.Happy Investing!

I work a full time job as an Engineer making machines for manufacturing companies, but I have always wanted to invest in real estate and am now starting to get into the finer details of it so I can take it on as a part time and eventually have it become my fulltime job. 

Install some inexpensive Factory Seconds Engineered Hardwood.

The way the law works in Ohio - any landowner can petition for drainage improvements on their property by filing a petition and $750 with the court, the county engineer assesses the situation and draws up plans and costs/benefits, there are a couple of hearings, and then the county commissioners decide whether to approve the project.