My husband is a licensed general contractor with experience in building semi-custom homes, finish carpentry, kitchen & bath design, cabinet installation, and much more.

I just don't want to start working with a realtor and waste time and end up with no real solid prospects for buying.

It creates its own Vortex of customers. 

I'm new to the game but I have been prospecting for deals for a while now.

It would cost me only $2300 per month which includes rent utilities furnishing and property management. she showed me one example only of a customer who profited greatly.

I can say almost all my customers have worked into that 1% or better, but sometimes make take a few years with rent increases.My advice is to look for slightly older homes in non-HOA neighborhoods to improve your ROI.

I figured why not just use a banks money instead of using a customers money and not have to deal with picky customers.

Nothing wrong with this approach but what you want is a measurable, predictable number of potential deals flowing your way so I wouldn't recommend relying solely on the passive deal search.You may have access to information to help you prospect for these deals on your own.

When the builder hands us the property and it is our responsibility to customize the interior build out.

It will give you an entirely different prospective on investing, time management, and economic outpatient care.