I spoke with the assistant director of both the building coding/permit office and planning department about it and they didn't see any issues.

My last CPA has retired and the others at that office are not real estate investors.  

You can always post on here and look for a good agent and loan officer in the area you are looking.

Third, the lender, which is hard money, has asked me to comment on a police report with incidents (all traffic related and mostly speeding), going back about fifteen years. 

Maybe office. 

As you put 20% down, it might differ, but talk to your loan officer. 

I am experienced in new construction, but wondering if are there are some significant incentives to take old unused buildings in small downtowns and convert them to apartments, office space, etc. 

In the State of Delaware, residential home sales are closed at an attorney's office.

@Rai UdHouse hacking has served me and my family well, we have a 2750 sqft house. 4/3 We temporarily turned the office into a bedroom and was curious how the home would perform if we put it on full blast per se.

But all of these vary from office to office and city to city.