You may want to involve an attorney for the purchase and sale and mortgage agreements though... 

Additionally, I’m considering converting a garage into a bedroom.If I want to list these properties on Airbnb, I understand I’ll need to obtain the following:• BTR (Business Tax Receipt)• CU (Certificate of Use)For these, I’ll need to undergo a city inspection.

also especially for the first few I would look to build a good team in the area you want to work so they can help you understand these differences

If you think real estate investing is about cash flow first, you don't understand real estate. 

You can build a basic understanding of investing in 3-6 months.

With so many banks to choose from and me already doing thorough research, I was hoping someone had a personal good experience with a certain bank or an individual at a bank who understands our world.

You should definitely talk to your CPA, which I am not, but...My understanding is that until you actually have a business, meaning a property in services, nothing can be deducted.

A few questions:Have any of you been in a similar situation where multiple partners were involved?

We recently did a loan involving a borrower with a mind-numbing operating agreement involving nested LLCs, retirement plans, and individuals. 

That is a steep price for anyone new looking to get involved.