"Cutting" the tree down. 

@Phil SheltonYou would need a civil engineer to provide a drawing to get submitted to zoning and get a permit if it passes zoning is most common This also depends on the road - if it’s a state road forget it as it will take a year to get approved and cost a fortune - if it’s a local road process not as cumbersome but don’t expect this to happen quicklyIn some instances you may have to prepare sight distances etc to make sure it’s safe to add a curb cut

Will cut about 4 inches above ground and plant the stump.  

If you have a flat roof with drains, or a pitched roof with gutters I would ensure either way that the flow of water is un-obstructed most commonly by leaves or pine needles from trees.

Purchase price: $105,000 Cash invested: $90,000 Property needed some serious rehab, from trees roots destroying the basement walls, to plumbing, electrical, to roofing, landscape.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Good luck getting that info from the guys who don’t speak English who cut down your trees for $1200. lol Not many people follow rules on anything, so?

I was hoping the rate cuts in the last 12 months would have had more of an impact on mortgage rates. 

In a market like Joshua tree you will probably need to go above and beyond to stand out from other listings.

You can expect that you will be required to build roads, sidewalks, storm water control, utility taps, street lights, street trees as well as recreation fees as part of the development process.