I don't mind adding value to the deal by acting as the buyers' "loan officer" throughout the process.

I have done commercial loans for multi-family, retail, office, etc.Mark

If they're young workers, you'll probably want your rentals nearby transportation hubs, cafes, and restaurants.

Call the tax assessors office for the tax rates in your area.

My target is travelling nurses or contractors or wildfire workers.

You can definitely learn a lot by being in a real estate office.   

I was once told a story of a guy who bought a piece of plywood for his roofer and got sued for millions when one of his roofers workers died on the job.

I was looking for a HELOC and getting frustrated when a loan officer at a very local bank told me a fellow loan officer there had rentals and had a HELOC from Zions.

After reading the clarifying language for opportunity zones, it seems as though a newly formed real estate fund could buy an office building in an opportunity zone and hire employees to help run the fund (they work in the OZ).

I think you should be talking to an escrow officer at a Title company if you want this done properly.