If you're open to looking at some resources here's what I would recommend you start with based on what you've said:1.

I would recommend against being the GC unless you are confident of doing more than one effort.  

For cash flow, I'd recommend checking out the Triad (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point) or Fayetteville in NC and Sumter and Florence in SC. 

Any advice or recommendations of where to locate groups seeking similar goals would be greatly appreciated!

If I have some cash do you recommend clearing the loan or invest instead for next property with proper planning ? 

I would recommend you look for a good neighborhood to buy a multi family in.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recommend you first figure out the property Class you want to invest in, THEN figure out the corresponding location to invest in.Property Class will typically dictate the Class of tenant you get, which greatly IMPACTS rental income stability and property maintenance/damage by tenants.If you apply Class A assumptions to a Class B or C purchase, your expectations won’t be met and it may be a financial disaster.If you buy/renovate a property in Class D area to Class A standards, what quality of tenant will you get?

Good afternoon everyone, I am must likely new on bigger pockets and I would love to hear some recommendations on how to find off market multifamily properties.

I think you bring up a good point of considering offering higher returns to investors if I have to begin to search outside of my network.But my original question from the post still remains, where would you recommend I search for people interested in an opportunity like this? 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?