I was wondering if that is enough to secure a source to finance the project. from my understanding development financing usually comes in much later when a building permit has been secured from the city. 

My plan would be to complete a $150-$200k remodel, but I wasn't sure if by pulling permits it might jeopardize the grandfathered status of the property.

With that being said how would I go about ensuring that the property I am looking at can be zoned/permitted correctly before actually purchasing the property?

In my area, licensed professionals DO have to be involved and there's only a few companies offering the actual transporting services so that hikes up the price to around $8k to move a single wide and $15k to move a double wide (this includes disconnecting, transporting, setting back up and permits).

The key though is to have the permit ready to be issued.

Even college rentals that had been renting for ~$1,000/room consistently for years are now getting up to $2,500 for a standard room in a shared (dumpy) house near campus.

If accounting rules permit flexibility, I will allocate the amount from the 1031 exchange to the house so that its capital gain will disappear under the home sale exclusion rule.  

Many parts of South Atlanta (East Point, College Park, Hapeville, etc.) are actively going through transformations (call it growth or gentrification) right now.

Most people won't understand that you may not want to go to college, get a job that last forever, and then retire. 

My mother went through one and she just hired a couple college kids to move all the stuff so she did not have to.