Take photos and/or make a list of when permitted work was done (don't be surprised if that "10 year old roof" was replaced in 1997...)  

Conventional, Hard Money, and Portfolio/Commercial lending are the 3 main methods.Conventional lending is going to be mainly the "buy-and-hold" type of customer.  

If you need help on the permit / design end, we do lots of residences in CA.

That's the problem I am running in to most give you the common answers because they don't understand or want to understand the service member exemptions because we are a very large pool of their customers.

I would initially imagine hard money would be out because it's not a basic fix and flip short term loan, this is something that will require permits and plans to be drawn up and approved

A collection agency, PI, or a company looking to perform due diligence on its customers would have permissible purpose.  

(actually construction of homes)Permit fees What size homes are you planning?

I preach customer service and doing the right thing, that's all great to talk about because it costs you nothing, but here I am needing to put my money where my mouth is.

I have found 2 so far just by passively driving to customers houses.

Don't forget to include the cost for permits, tap fees, impact fees and etc.