Didn’t really understand anything about permits, except to get one for the dumpster on the road.

They want to close on the property after the permits are approved, and have us build them a building after close of escrow.

You could put a little money into each of the units as a tenant changed out, or as the tenants permitted (I would imagine most won't complain about you making their apartment look nicer).

It sounds like more than $25,000 - and some of the work will require permitting?

New construction timelines in Austin are going to take you a year from permit application to CO.  

While I would've preferred to visit in person while in contract, my work schedule didn't permit, and I'm comfortable with my local team and the tons of research performed on market, zip code, and neighborhood.

dont worry about code compliance, as long as you go talk with them ask a lot of questions have them involved and budget for their cost and time for proper permits and inspections then you will be better off.

A good GC can be your project manager and then you could pay disinterested third party in KC a flat fee per project visit to inspect and assess % of completion at scheduled contract milestones for each GC payment and/or permit required inspection.

I ask because many towns/cities will not allow you to pull permits yourself if the property is not in your name. 

Working with the city on Dumpster permitting and servicing was a new and overlooked one, as well as our potential to need a new main drain for the 60 YO building.