I am looking to connect with other investors, learn and ultimately become an experienced investor with a big portfolio.

I always prefer to have a local attorney experienced in PML in that state.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Does anyone know of 1-2 experienced developers in the Houston area that I could network with as I get started?

Anyone can file a mechanic's lien without taking you to court, and I have experienced this personally. 

The best advice on this topic, in my opinion, comes from 2 books:How to win friends and influence peopleNever eat aloneI am also looking for brokerages to work with or even experienced shadow / intern for to gain experience and additional knowledge.

I'm based in Los Angeles and experiencing the same difficulties finding a lender for out of state commercial multi-family properties under $1M.

Here is their webpage:  https://www.titanbank.com/about-us As for Solera, yes, the main reason I chose Titan Bank over them is because Solera's webpage didn't have a professional enough look and feel to it compared to Titan Bank. 

I had a similar experience to you Josh and my management company said all of their other owners are experiencing the same.

And when investing out of state, make sure to work with a local trustworthy professional who will have your best interest and understands your needs.