I am currently a grad student and my mother and I discovered Wholesaling on this website.

With that said, since discovering this site yesterday, and now having listened to 3 podcasts and read a dozen articles, I think I want to change my goals.  

I am new at investing and am wondering how one goes about discovering if the previous owner has in the past, attempted to subdivide the lot and been turned down by zoning board.

Sorry I am posting so late I just discovered BP so I apologize if this information is mute now.

There may be something that the previous owners only discovered once they became the note's owner.

May have to break them up over a few months depending on their situation.I'd also check with previous LL to make verify that tenants have been paying on time. 

I'm involved with a tenant in a similar situation and we are `going for five figures in damages, Most LL's violate laws, nail them hard, in fact, it would be a great strategy just screwing them over when the mess with tenants, much like an ambulance chaser.

If they don't have a case, the law student will probably discover this and advise your former tenant not to pursue it.  

I discovered after a large water bill that I had a leaky toilet that was repaired.

Sometimes after discussing investors discover large multifamily or commercial isn't what they thought at first and others times they are more intrigued.