Recently moved to Birmingham, AL from Chicago to be closer to family but also to reinvent myself professionally. 

Oceanpointe has re-invented themselves as Freeportinvest.com.

I realize asking on the forum may be an easier route, but why try to reinvent the wheel, if I can learn from those willing to teach and share?

Never try to reinvent the wheel, there's always good models and people who are willing to help. 

Don't try to reinvent the wheel as a beginner. 

No need to reinvent the wheel.The truth is, a "preapproval" may be issued by a lender utterly irrespective of an "application". 

There's no real 'fair' way to truly separately meter the natural gas used for the different units, unless you get into rabbit hole land of re-inventing a wheel and a series of sensors measuring heat and air flow within separate ducts, on your (customer) side.I'll comment on each option individually and your decision will be numbers driven. 

Take it a step at a time and don't try to reinvent the wheel, we have many successful people in real estate you can copy their strategies in your area.

I don’t know where to go to find someone trustworthy to go in on it with me  You don't have to reinvent the wheel. 

No need to reinvent the wheel looking for financing elsewhere.