If you have experience in managing construction, then you should feel comfortable filing an Owner Builder permit.

In inventory-constrained areas pre-construction SFHs can be a great way to get new construction at decent prices (the builders have real economies of scale so they can build cheaper than you and me).

Who can i speak to in the construction/builder space that could help me get an understanding of costs /planning for a new build.Thank you 

For my 2nd home that my wife and I currently live in, we were able to obtain a 5.5% rate through the builder DR Horton for a new home.

Any referrals for good builders would be greatly appreciated!

This will be a Joint Venture with the builder.

Second, you need a builder/general contractor.

Commercial debt is dicey right now to say the least ... when John Kane can't get a lending partner to execute a project (Downtown South) it should be no surprise that smaller regional and local builders are struggling also.

This is going to sound sacrilege but I think you should get a W-2 job in real estate based on your end game of wanting to be a developer I would look to work for developers, custom builders, surveyors etc.

I built high-end custom modular (e.g. stick built in a factory and shipped) for a significantly cheaper cost per sq foot than it would have cost to build with a local builder.