See if you can find a local credit union that is willing to work with you. 

Quote from @Gregory Wilson: A few things there, Brendan.First, an LLC with you as a member and your (wife, son, pal, etc.) partner as a 1% member will file a Form 1065 which is about one tenth as likely to be audited by the IRS as a Form 1040 with a Schedule E rental activity (which I presume you will attempt to show is an active business).Second, you want an LLC because when your local Alabama handyman drives his girlfriend's uninsured truck into a van load of U of A medical school interns on I-22 when he goes  to get some shingles for your roof, on your business, you don't lose everything you have or ever will have to an uninsured claim. 

Go to BUILD YOUR TEAM at the top of the screen and look for local investors or meetups in your area.

We were collaborating with a local real estate agent who presented us with this MLS listing.

Any tips or tools for evaluating the local market would be greatly appreciated.

Unless you have a local law that says otherwise, it's not illegal to disclose this. 

Talk to your local building department for the codes they follow and requirement(s).

You should be able to find local builders that will finance the construction component of your new build, however! 

Leverage equity, explore house hacking, and continue learning through books, podcasts, and local networking to refine your strategy.

In 2022 the rents increased 12.1% year over year which was the 3rd highest in the entire country per https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2023/02/14/cleveland-rent-prices.