Check with your local/regional banks.

Contact the county or local planning department to see if there are any issues with building on the property - bring donuts and make friends as these people will make or break you.If you are unsure of the borders of the property, then have the seller order a professional survey be done.If there is a Department of State Lands or similar in your region then find out about any special delineations on the property.Find out about power.

I actually lived in downtown LA before I went to TX, so I'm vaguely familiar with the SoCal region.

Big money I am sure to get where Sean is.. you would probably need to do it regional say MS TN AL GA and Carolina's to make it worth super sizing..

I used to use New Western for the Texas region, but they do not do business in Northern California.

Properties are in Troy, NY (capital region of NY).

So, someone here could recommend something, but you wouldn't be getting the discounts that we might be seeing through our region/company/board.

They are a regional credit union that holds a large portion of mortgages in house. 

These loans would be through smaller banks or credit unions that are 'local' or regional'.

I am currently looking at properties in the Midwest if I choose the apartment building because from what I understand that is the best cash flowing region currently.