Bet that is going to stir up the POT.I  found them in a town of about 150,000People, where my work was.

Best bet is a DSCR, but you might have trouble with a BRRRR, but you could always refi in to DSCR after rehab. 

Betting on a live-in flip to get more money for your next deal is not a great idea if your house hack was your first investment.

Andrew and his company, American Private Money Group are not reliable or trustworthy.

Rather just get a flat fee from a lawyer to write stuff up for me, or bet on an a la carte online medium to curate it for me. 

You could certainly "be in the right" regarding getting screwed over by the builder but this is a situation that is going to be very very risk for a hard money lender - typically stay away from unfinished rehabs/builds due to running out of money.Your best bet I would say is to find a local private money partner (maybe as more of an equity investor) or to try to finish one first and then re-evaluate, instead of trying to borrow for rehab on both

I want to be seen an somebody trust-worthy, friendly, and eventually become a genuine leader, through hard work and reliability.

Some say a local commercial lender is the best bet, but in certain areas even the local banks don't want the "risk" of a multi-family turned into a boutique hotel. 

I would recommend working directly with a trustworthy wholesaler.

We have decades to bet on appreciation in more desirable parts of Southern California.