@Ash Clarke sounds like you have a good foundation of knowledge and the 50,000 foot vision down.

Bingo! 

Most lenders want shopping center 50% pre-leased before the construction loan starts for non-experienced developers.The cost of construction per ft for a one off building is very high because the starting developer does not have the volume to save money ordering in bulk and have full time crews doing only their projects.Additionally you might want to use certain building materials but the county or city dictates higher end finishes to approve the site plan which add about 25 to 30 bucks a foot more to overall build costs.

Building is really expensive right now...probably approaching $300/foot.

I'm looking for a skilled, experienced, and financially sounded General Contractor to build out luxury loft apartment and commercial space in an almost 16k square foot property in the heart of downtown Rocky Mount.

The last thing I want to do is start off on the wrong foot with the neighbors, especially if I plan to rent it out.

We're doing research online and while we've found what seem to be some reliable companies, most of them specialize in higher-end remodels and their price per square foot is insane.

@Stephen Foote - I think you should ask yourself how bad do you want to achieve financial freedom? 

@Shane Crockett Seattle is hot, that's a given, but I am not sure I can get excited about a 4-cap with 600 square foot units.

I’ve been reading the bigger pockets beginner book and I think I might’ve found my strategy’s to get my foot in the water with house hacking, lending money, and whole sailing (I think).