My partner is a timber framer (specialty builder who uses oversized pieces of lumber to build houses, barns, etc. - think old world castle builder) so he cut some 9" x 9" posts and a beam out of Douglas Fir to replace the load bearing wall. 

I saw an ad yesterday looking for a framer, 5 years experience required, $10 an hour.

@Dan Gongora I have a good framer if you need another set of eyes to look at it and give you a price, call or PM me if you want more info. 

IE they don’t have painters, framers, plumbers, electricians, etc

I had several discussions with framers and architects by could not come into a conclusion on what is the best.

Simultaneously, the rent roll increased dramatically within this same time frame. Really

They do enough volume that they have salaried electricians, plumbers, framers, painters on their team, so their costs are dramatically lower than what my wife and I can do.

A residential framer should be able to give you a better idea and be able to recommend an engineer who could help you out with this.The horizontal members of a roof system keep the roof from pushing the walls over.

Look for a good framer.

I am a framer.