I am planning (with a little luck and work) to be applying for WAY more debt than my income will facilitate on its own, so I want to seek out and work with lenders who understand REI and are willing to do portfolio and asset-based loans. 

Consequently, they generate their own problems and high vacancies.Contrarily however, beach cities (eg Santa Barbara, Huntington Beach, Ft Lauderdale) and mountain ski resorts (Jackson Hole, Vale, Mammoth Lake) have so much activity that the accommodations is just a trivial necessity to facilitate the activity.Where there are numerous class-c's in resort locations - - the area is over built and I would find some other location to invest (the lowest common denominator drags you down), unless class-c is your intended market segment.Best wishes.

I am hoping one of you could guide me toward a very good accountant who can help me facilitate this.

You will need a Qualified Intermediary to facilitate that. 

I've been presented with an opportunity to JV this deal with the following structure:I fund 100% of the deal for 50% of the profitThey will facilitate the managing of the project (rehab, selling once completed, etc.)One of my concerns is that they have no skin in the deal (i.e., if the deal goes south, I'm on the hook for the money owed).

It is good stuff to know, but doesn't really teach much about being an investor, only a "transaction facilitator".For what it's worth ...

I facilitate these meetings and arrange for the logistics.  

In seeking out an SDIRA provider, you'll find that traditional banks and brokerage houses rarely have the systems in place to facilitate non-traditional assets.

Bottom line, the seller needs to act in good faith including providing those documents and information reasonably required to facilitate the transaction.

Facilitating a deal for a fee might mean trouble....good luck!