I am currently in the process of educating myself about the REI game while i finish up my business degree.

I would recommend using FHA to get into the game as an OO property and then using that to snowball into more properties down the road.

By far the best learning experience in this numbers game, while you are getting licensed, is driving for dollars, knocking on doors, and cold calling.

My primary business is selling land in LA and the Inland Empire to homebuilders and other kinds of developers. 

., if you're not willing to pay for a home inspection then they might assume you're not serious about the home, and therefore they may not invest their time doing a walk through with you).Its definitely harder to get estimates/opinions from contractors without having a relationship with them first, and its hard to develop that relationship without doing business with them.  

If they could get out of their own way of their own regulation or reduce them for developers and charities to be able to build housing from say shipping containers,  or in older commercial buildings without having to do a full upgrade to modern standards.   

Well if you sell the only way it makes sense is with a 1031 or you'd drop all your hard earned gain for a better return and that's a break even game - no fun for anyone.Cash out refi - watch out in an environment of rising rates. 

Also like Matthew mentions above, each city/state has their own zoning and codes, working with a knowledgeable developer in the areas who would also help you install the container homes would help tremendously imho.

I've purchased many homes, and have had a few rentals, but I've never invested in a developers project.  

It's about as nonsensical a way to get in the R E game as there is.