I’m hoping to create more modern/warm look. 

Not saying it's  a scam, but there are plenty of loan officers that charge no fee to hassle with that mess.

It definitely will be more demanding than working a limited position in an office (certainly to start).What I really want to find is someone who might be able to offer some advice or even work to help my transition from "processor for someone else" to "Mortgage Broker for myself."

To the left of the home the property has already been converted to a business offices (although it looks just like a home on the outside).

She hinted around that she'd like to have the furniture that was left behind in the house by the previous owner, nice solid 1950's mid-century modern furniture that I could have sold for quite a lot of money.

Reach out to the seller, let them know you need to come to financial terms on a settlement, or you will be pursuing a civil case as well as turn over the falsified documents to the Attorney Generals office in your state for mortgage fraud. 

That’s a very simple question to ask your loan officer.  

I mean if you or I bought a flip and put a 7% fee on the CD for that stuff we'd get laughed out the closing attorneys office, but we don't run the most well known name in all of Real Estate. 

There are over 300 offices in the USA.

Should I take on the mess with the city permit / code violations office or walk away from the deal?