Hi BiggerPockets community!
I have a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry/Quantum Dynamics... https://pubs.aip.org/aip/jcp/article/142/24/244112/74387 ... and I literally designed and built my own house off of 30A in Florida...

Cant speak for the other markets but here in College Station, you can get low-interest-rate loans even as an investor through the builder's preferred lender! 

One of the markets that we have a great builder partner is in North Carolina.  

Just because you don't make any money on them, doesn't mean you aren't responsible, along with the source of the actual plans, for any mistakes in the plans, or even any mistakes in construction from lack of info, misunderstanding, or just plain stupidity of the builder/user of the plans.

When consulting investors I have tried to solve for this as well in negotiating with builders to offer rates in the high 3%s.  

I will save money using simple white shaker cabinets that are available inexpensively in any market in the US, but will buy higher quality than the builder grade quartz.

Hi everyone . I am brand new to investing but looking to take action preferably in the multi family space . Fairly well read and open to partnerships/syndications/apartments. Long term goal of creating passive income ...

I found this deal on Zillow and negotiated the deal directly with the builder.

In other words customer wants a spec house (at production hours cost) versus a production house, which if you are not set up for this, how do you price it as a non custom builder for only one home? 

If the salesperson can't give you an answer, request to speak with the Area Sales Manager (or whoever is managing that salesperson).I have never worked with Ryan Homes, but in my experience with my builder-clients, we typically want to continue using the model/sales office at least through sellout and potentially even longer depending on how many homes remain to be closed.