I recently acquired raw land just a couple of miles outside of San Diego County and dealt with another county it was a straightforward sale and learn a lot about permits and codes in that area.  

If so, that's really the best option for the owner to maximize the net proceeds.Unless you're in the origination business, you're probably going to have to sell a seller financed note at a discount.

It has a finished attic that is not one of the BRs and do not believe the finished attic would meet today's construction code (the property was built in the 40s/50s). 

There are times where codes are updated and older buildings are required to retrofit, but often that is not the case.

However, my days of manually scrubbing county databases to get code violations lists or manually generating probate lists are behind me.

They may not have thought to negotiate a large discount on the purchase price by documenting/hiring property inspector/taking own photographs and presenting findings to listing agent and owner who had not walked the property in over 3 years.The 4 units that were rented were, $600, $700, $700 and $800, with both of the $700 units being 3 bed 1.5 bath at approx 1,100 sq ft. 

I've taken so many personality tests that I mix up results and codes and forget which one applies to which.

It's not a horrible investment play, leaving the basement unfinished, because you buy a house at a discount in a flood zone, but it rents are market because there is no downgrade to the tenant on the quality of the rental because it's in flood zone.

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