I will leave code compliant things to the professionals like HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.

Contacting/hiring an architect to bring the existing property up to code.3.

Also note how the article is talking about returns on $88k average priced properties and getting 15%...draw that value down to a zip code with $30-50k houses and you really have something worth bragging about!"

It's not perfect, but it is competed, safe, and passes a home inspection and code inspection.

Pay for a professional inspection, pay for a title search, and please check for code violations!

Hope this guide helps - http://www.houstonproperties.com/houston-neighborh...Here's Houston Zip Code Map  - http://www.houstonproperties.com/houston-neighborh...I've also moved from beautiful CA to planet Houston just over 2 yrs ago, and still frequent San Diego to visit our daughter during the holidays.  

They involve personalities, emotions, finances, legalities, changing goals and dreams and too many moving parts to reduce the transaction to slapping a bar code on a house and selling it on Amazon.But hey, what do I know? 

I pay the $25 a month plan so I can monitor subs who get their own codes and can be programmed on the internet.

these all might be code issues with creating an additional dwelling..

The latter have blowers & the dissipation of heat is amazing.When we had to upgrade our fire prevention systems (& add fire sprinkler heads) to meet new building codes, we were grandfathered in on some issues because we did not have forced air heat & vents that heat & smoke can travel through in case of fire.We have another property with a circa 2002 steam heat boiler system.