Eventually you'll start developing relationships with people in the market that will bring you off market deals, but they have to believe that you can close the deal.

I'm fairly new to investing and looking to wholesale at first, then develop a portfolio of rental properties in apartments, SFH or both.

The end goal is to have a piece of land with multiple houses: one for my growing family but also a home for my mother in law.My mother in law has agreed to foot the money on a new property/land up front and when ready we can buy land from her to build/develop etc. 

Lenders get paid at closing.Consider developing a better process to find and vet your lenders, Torianne.

The issue with section 179 expense is that you normally have to operate at positive income.Under most circumstances, bonus depreciation is better since you can take bonus depreciation even if you operate at negative income. 

In the future, we aim to get into fixer-uppers, development, etc., but for now, we like to only consider semi-stabilized (with minimal deferred maintenance) or fully stabilized, cash-flowing properties. 

The first indication is you spent $290k for $1800 cash flow or a 0.62% monthly ratio.Rent $1800 - PITIH $1480 - $180 (pm) - $90 (vacancy at 5% which is lowest i ever allocate in my underwriting and likely low per the OP description of a lot of new development) = $50 for all other expenses.Maintenance/cap ex on 4/2, 2100’ will exceed $300/month even in cheap labor markets on sustaining basis.  

I am now looking to get into new construction development in the PG, Montgomery, and Rockville county areas of Maryland.

This is a long term development opportunity.

I don't deny that it's tough if you don't have family or contacts of your own, but with enough time and patience, I think it should be possible to develop contacts.