SIOR website has a lookup feature for commercial brokers close to where the property is located and they focus a lot on office.Generally a lender is looking for net worth close to the purchase price of a property or higher and liquidity reserves of 10% of the loan balance after down payment.

I am a web designer as well.

I am trying to get in touch with some builders so I can get some sketches/designs for small multifamily buildings so I can get an estimate on the costs.

Hint: if tenant cuts water in half, pool equip stops running, $$$$ garden burns up, and water features stop working.

My wife and I designed and built our current home.

I'd rather aim for BRRR in a more active rental market.I'm just wrapping up the real estate licensee coursework (via Rockwell) and exams, and I'll be looking for a Designated Broker to hang my shingle under. 

This can be a fellow investor, contractor, designer, RE agent, banker, lawyer, appraiser ... you get the idea.  

In most cases design and looking at houses is what they like and show them how.

To me rental properties make the most sense for building long term wealth and for lifestyle design, if that's what you want.

If you were me you would be choosing based on lifestyle design and either stay where you are because you love it there or move with the folks because you love the new home and you love being close to family.