A lot of the deals I get are from banker buddies of mine or are referrals from my past contacts.

It is not that you are forced, rather are they a broker or mortgage banker? 

Put together a good team seasoned Realtor, seasoned Banker/Loan officer, and ask around about contractors if you decide to renovate. 

Without diving too deeply into interest rate buy downs, these can be effective tools for improving cash flow, but there is a limitation to their benefit that is best analyzed with your mortgage broker/banker. 

I don't want to be too argumentative as the new guy, but I've been an investor in lending club for over two years and a banker by trade.

It may not own physical property assets, which I would argue are actually liabilities, and if you don't think so then go ask your banker whether your house is listed as an asset or a liability on their ledger.

However when I speak to local brokers, bankers, and general investors, there is little to no knowledge or interest in the field.

Thank you both @Jake Andronico and Andrew (wouldn't let me tag you for some reason)...I have a call with a second local lender today (had my first yesterday) to try and establish a good relationship with a credit union/banker as I move forward.What are your thoughts on FHA (and the 203k options they have) vs the new Fannie Mae Owner-Occupied 5% down program that was just created recently? 

As a mortgage banker years ago, I always required my borrowers to "proof up".

It was a local S&L.Then we happen to chat with our bankers at Citibank, before the term "wealth accounts" became popular, and they have a variation of that back then.