They have some things designed for higher end investors.

It's not a scam per se, but it's unnecessary and is designed for people who don't have the financial discipline to apply their excess cashflow to debt paydown.

In reference to the recent bubble burst as an anomaly and not the rule, you can still safely assume that real estate prices will continue to climb over time even though more modestly than in the past.

Our goal is to design/build a house that can legitimately be a big SFR or a Padsplit property.

If accurate then the SEC rules are designed to prevent unsophisticated investors from getting into this exact situation.

Get a good architect first and design what you need don't jump the gun. 

It's designed to ensure someone nearby can manage things responsibly.Your plan to hire a local person for emergencies and other tasks is a great workaround.

Skyline (Designed for institutional investors and asset managers focused on commercial portfolios). 

We all have different strategies, but I am not going to invest in a tiny house that they want over half million for, and then lose money every month for the next 5 years hoping it is going to appreciate and not pop in another bubble.

And most importantly how do design your landscaping?