Most people who have funds to lend know many others who also have funds to lend.

I am most interested in finding some people local to get ahold of to pick their brains/ learn from them. 

Since your not on site my fear is the risk in finding the right people that will be honest with you.  

I've done this with my properties because I'm well known in my small town and don't want people to know what I own.LEGAL PROTECTION: By placing your assets in an LLC, you are legally separating them from your personal assets.

Unfortunately, there are no real population centers (over 100k people) within 2 hours of where I am.  

Some people like/don't mind Arlington (and some pockets are better than others), but I no longer look there. 

Maybe people buying and not fixing up who just want a multi unit at lower price point?

Do not let multiple people pull your credit unless they know their own guidelines. 

They used to be the best, but now so many seem to outsource the process and maybe both the originating CU and the people they actually farm the loan out to try to make some bucks off it.  

I will say, most people don't syndicate a duplex.