Purchase price: $169,000 I purchased my first house my first year of college after leaving the military.

This will largely depend on the city as some cities don't even require rental licenses but using for a non-permitted use is likely a misdemeanor. 

His prices are cheap because he did not have to deal with all the red tape, inspections, permits, etc.He also raised 3 kids with no help from no one!

A college student looking to get in the game early I'm saving up to get my first rental but I want to give private money a shot to get it done quicker, but then again with this market I also feel I should wait.

Thats for the design and stamping and permitting.

Or, perhaps better, know folks in the region who have experience permitting and executing against this sort of plan?

Geez...that's like asking what do I need to know about construction, financing, valuation, municipal codes and permitting, Landlord/Tenant Laws, liability protection, marketing, tenant screening/lease contracts, running a business, market demographics/inventory/year-over-year appreciation/rent pricing - and a whole lot more.  

Tax records do not show permits, they just want the money.

You need a special license/permit thing to store chlorine and acid, and if they ever leak and mix together, you'll be in huge trouble.

Has anyone used services like "Archinerds", "Southern Athena", etc. who advertise that they specialize in helping navigate codes and permits and refer you to building/remodeling professionals?