Then maybe you can go to local meet ups and partner up with a successful wholesaler as you're starting out.  

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am relatively new to this.I just commented the below on another post, but it pertains here as well"To get real good market insight - maybe call a few local Real Estate Agents and see if they will provide you contact information on the wholesalers they work with.

You have other net rental income (profit) in other activities / rentals (cannot be self-rentals typically) that you can offset, and / or3.

Drafted a plan, gathered estimates, created a budget, put together DTI sheets, even got an "as-built" appraisal, and also have it in a permit status at the Local Building and safety office.Then I started to look into the construction loan and the permanent financing....to do it myself, and not through a builder.I soon realized that there are sooo many companies out there that want to try to help...but cant  (some of them were even on this network of people):  don't have builds on record, won't allow for owner-built homes, my credit is less than 680, while carrying the construction loan, there may be a point at the end where because i have my rental house while building that it become hard to pay, and  I can't pull out a private loan to help start process because my credit cards balances are horrible...and my "business" has no show of income.So, now we are here in the present time....   

I’m new to real estate investing and ready, is there anyone locally in Tallahassee willing to be a mentor?

The bank will loan if you can get the zoning I'm sure, most likely a local bank

I'm experimenting with local trade shows and bus ads, but curious to see what others are doing out there and if that is working well for them!

Start listening to the BiggerPockets podcast starting at the very beginning and start growing your network, look on Facebook/BiggerPockets for different events, find a mentor doing what you want to do, and get to know the local lenders/brokers.

If you self manage and have less than 4 units you are exempt from fair housing, but there are also local Seattle laws that may trip you up.

It’s been a great tool for us for a decade plus the networking with local folks.