Readers are advised to seek professional advice.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Performing a duplex conversion and possibly a basement conversion is a veteran's move, when you have the contacts and/or skills necessary to get it done as cheaply as possible AND as reliably as possible.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

We have an onboarding team and manager who meets the client at the house, does an inspection (with pre-planned checklists), send documents digitally. 

I was considering being an agent because it would put me in the community, while potentially honing my skills and relationships while earning a solid income to invest pending my results.

What information about myself and my partnership can I pre-package to arm myself with before approaching a potential lender?

Professional framers is a specialty. 

My mortgage broker is urging me to use traditional lending, as my husband and I have pre-approval for nearly $1M.

Accountants are in such demand, that the best are not even accepting clients half the time.The other problem I see often with accountants on here is that they specialize in larger investors, and have really high prices when you as a smaller investor do not need all the bells and whistles.Another thing I see is folks thinking they need to have a tax professional in their state.