I focus on architecture and real estate sales but just starting out on flipping myself.

I'm focusing on buy and holds, have a background working in architecture and have owned a multi with my wife for over a decade.

I would advise strongly against doing new construction on your first venture unless you are partnering with a builder.New construction has elements of an advanced nature such as; accurate bidding, navigating the local municipality zoning and permitting, having the knowledge to work through soil suitability, detailed architectural elements and so forth.  

As I am going through my courses I would love to go to some REI meetups and network.I feel that RE is the right path for me because I am a people person, I love looking at houses (studied architecture for two years), and I don't see myself sitting in front of a computer for 9 hours a day, everyday, much longer.

Are you on the architectural board of a small town or a large city?

Also beware the HARB (Historical Architectural Review Board, http://www.norristown.org/historical-architecture-review-board.html). 

Gary Meyer by far I think is the most reasonable and great with small spaces- http://waynemeyerworks.com/profile.htmlSarah Hobstetter at Hobstetter Architecture Studio is a little more high end and modern-http://www.hobstetterarch.comBest of luck.

I'm from Toronto and have been in real estate for as long as I can remember (I studied architecture so I count that too :)).

We have worked in the branding and commercial interior design industry for the past 26 years and have always been passionate about architecture.

The structural engineer is saying that the building's original architectural plans only show the first floor (it's a very old 2 story building and its the 2nd floor where we'll be doing most of the work), they're hand drawings with no dimension nor on correct scale.