I reached out to several lenders about financing this project for the cost and renovation, I was either met with they only go up to 6 units, or the building has to  be occupied,  or that I was too in experience and I needed to put a license builder on the note with me.

An absolute headache to deal with due to corners cut by the builder (we are outside of the build warranty). 

As far as pricing out a build I would put a call out to a home builder in your area and chat with them about average cost per sq ft to build in your area to give yourself an idea.

Hard assets with (extreme) volatility will take out mom & pop; not just via barrier to entry but also by temptation to sell.I have done the following, and I think a few folks have copied me in certain areas and that's you buy the land and offer to re-sell with the condition you anchor the build(3rd party it to a real builder, in my case) for a rent to own or just resell.

I'm looking for help choosing a market to work and invest in. I specifically focus on subdividing land and multi-family new builds. Below is a photo of a 4-plex I recently built from the ground up on land I acquired t...

Being a builder, my first thought goes to the construction type items: Tile or wood floors, vinyl shower kits, high quality wall paint like Behr Marquis, solid wood furniture, good appliances not cheap rental ones, easy to maintain yard outside like DG, artificial turf and gravel. 

Let builders catch up and build some inventory. 

I just came back from the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas where Schlage had a big booth. 

Also, make sure you have builders risk coverage on the premises while the work is being completed.

The unskilled builders sometimes, often, did not frame well, especially look at open decks you can see under for a general idea of the skill set for that house.