Be candid and do it in person.

Sloan, he seems to be knowledgeable about commercial real estate and after peering over his website briefly, it seems that he offers personalized training to people new to the business. 

I had belatedly realized that FHA goes off personal credit and therefore I couldn't use the LLC for it.

A FHA 203k Loan is where the purchase price and rehab costs are rolled into a single loan.The downside of using FHA or a FHA 203k is you will need to live there, for a minimum of one year (to satisfy FHA Requirements); AND because you closed personally, you will not have Asset Protection, in the form of closing in the name of a LLC.

If you set the vision and then define the roles and responsibilities I think you can have an easier time finding the person you are looking for.

A couple questions:1) Has anyone worked with local lenders like a local bank or credit union?

Personal use - if you or your family used the property for personal purposes, you will need this to factored in. 

As a person who has lived in NC & SC and Phoenix, I would highly suggest AZ.

Bank pushed us to 40% down payment so also executed a $85K seller carry-back loan to cross the finish line.

Since i had capital and had access to my commercial banks for the best rates possible on vertical and horizontal loans..