Since you are from Bay Area, then Las Vegas prices seem really low.

I viewed a unit (industrial garage bays) that has what appears to be used for pot growth.

Not only new to the RE investing world, but also the San Francisco Bay Area (living in the East Bay) after transitioning from active duty Marines.

We are looking for multifamily development projects anywhere in Norcal, we are interested in both, ground-up development as well as value-add projects.Any suggestions would be appreciated. 

Does anyone have suggestions for a good local credit union or bank in the Bay Area or East Bay?

In a highly competitive market like the Bay Area, you as an investor need to answer these questions to get the deals. 

Kristofor, please do yourself a favor and find a (one) realtor who works with investors to not only find you contender properties but to assist you in completing the property analysis, determining market rent, and rental demand in what is known as the "Greater Tampa Bay Market." 

This will wreak havoc on tried-and-true plans people have been using.Also, the Streets Department has been cracking down on front bays if there are utility poles on that side of the street.

This is probably the big unknown keeping me from leaping into the market.FWIW, i'm in Northern California, specifically the East Bay, and looking at the Concord/Martinez/Pleasant Hill markets as well as in the Tracy/Manteca/Lodi/Stockton area, but I live/own in Livermore.

I am from the San Francisco bay area, where prices make buy-and-hold investing very challenging.