It appears bitcoin is like the savings account and litecoin is like the checking account for crypto? 

Save your money, do some Google'ing and you'll be just fine.  

So, for now, keep saving and learning about those markets or ancillary markets nearby that have better options.

most bankers are standoffish ;-)yes, the HML/PML will be higher cost, but my concern for you is the banker knows he can't do your deal, but will string you along for a while, ask for additional information that takes you time (and maybe cost) to put together and he ends up either ghosting you or taking 6 months to tell you no.I could be wrong and you may be dealing with a "unicorn" banker, but I believe a HML/PML that knows construction in your market will be easier to work with, actually close your deal, and end up "saving" you money in the long-term...just my 3 cents - even inflation has increased this!

I’m hoping to establish a reliable stream of unearned income through real estate investments, but I’m new to the field and looking for guidance.I have around $35,000 saved (excluding stock investments) and would love to connect with someone who can help me navigate this world.

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I agree with @Michael Smythe to consider the time to save vs the appreciation. 

It’s also a great strategy for consolidating debt or accessing additional capital for growth.However, be mindful of potential prepayment penalties and how they weigh against long-term savings.

@Joshua Morency I started out by househacking a 3 bedroom rental allowing me to basically live rent free for a few years while I saved up enough money to buy a condo. 

We like being aggressive in stock market investing but more conservative in real-estate given that we plan to use that for cash-flow eventually.The options are:We expect to have $200K/year in taxable savings the next 5 years (barring a job loss)- Pump all savings to the stock market & keep the current rental properties as-is and payoff the properties over the next 15 years using cash-flow for snowballing.