This is going to be a little long-winded, so please bear with me. 

Thanks for bearing with my ignorance on this one, gentlemen!

If you alter what is known as a bearing wall then you may need a structural engineer to design that for you.

@A Bari - The property being sold really has no bearing on whether or not it conformed to zoning (or conforms now). 

All of this may have had enormous bearing on the GCs not wanting to undertake your proposed project, or, conversely, you could be exactly right.I think you'll agree you're well out of your depth on this one, and obviously nobody whom you can trust with the construction knowledge you need is there on-site.

Does anyone have experience removing a load bearing wall using an LVL beam?  

This is especially true if they invite others to the property -- others who they may not know well and who won't bear any responsibility if anything is stolen or damaged.

When you’re talking to prospects about investing with you, bear in mind that they’re talking to others as well, probably Financial Planners.

A bear trap shakes out the pessimists who sell or stay on the sidelines in cash only to observe the bull market continue.

I'd even be open to paying a (reasonable) percentage of the deal with the expectation that I'd represent myself, do all the work and bear the risk.