At a minimum, having viable plans in place for development will make these lots more marketable and valuable to potential builders when we have conversations. 

Definitely focusing on offmarket or even on market multifamily homes (minimum 4 units). started off in real estate development last 2 years but the paydays are brutal building then waiting to sell.So now looking to switch up strategies to purchase cashflowing properties and then get back to ground up construction or even possible fix and flips. 

Mixed-Use Developments with Green DesignsEco-conscious development is on the rise.

Has anyone had any luck on structuring a deal with seller financing to obtain the land, then use a lender for the horizontal development infrastructure.

The GC should help you determine the scope of work and provide a list of materials based on your goals (e.g., rental vs. flip) and the property's target market.

This was found off market, we have developed a process to find off market deals.

Those are some very different markets you listed.

The end goal is to have a piece of land with multiple houses: one for my growing family but also a home for my mother in law.My mother in law has agreed to foot the money on a new property/land up front and when ready we can buy land from her to build/develop etc. 

I would talk to some lenders  getting land loans and development loans with no experience is next to impossible starting out.. 

You need boots on the ground to see who lists flips and who lists dumps.