Local bank or local credit union.Develop your local relationships.

The relationship is straightforward and you don't need to know much else legally.

Since we’re in the early stages, do you have any tips on building meaningful relationships with lenders or private investors for future projects?

Create columns for Name, Street Address, City, State, Zip and then contact info: Last Contact, Relationship, Status, Email & Phone.IMPORTANT: do NOT ask people for THEIR business, ask for referrals!

Do they have actual vendor relationships? 

Also helping was a relationship with that bank (deposit accounts) and good credit. 

To maintain control and avoid being locked into larger deals, consider directly owning replacement properties or exploring a partial 1031 exchange while carefully structuring syndication investments.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

Consult a CPA to ensure compliance with tax regulations and explore strategies that align with your goals, such as providing for your mom while managing tax implications effectively.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

I was just curious about how those relationships naturally come about.

If you don't have the funds yourself, you need to develop a solid relationship with those that do.