@Jack B.Tax planning for an orderly disposal can be fun and highly recommend you work with your team on this.  

I would try a local commercial bank, you might be able to get in the high 7s for a full doc commercial loan. 

You said you live in Austin, no better way to learn than directly so, there is a syndication group Viking Capital LLC, that is buying/raising for a 252 unit property in NewBraunfels, about 45 min south of Austin, watch their webinar at their website below and they have an 82 pg slide show as well, then take a 3 hour trip to go see it, walk the property, go into office ask about the units available/leasing how the market is from the office staff, look around for quality of property/deferred maintenace needed then drive the area for other competitor properties.

I highly suggest you check it out.

I've purchased and sold many properties this way and feel it's a wonderful tool, but with risks.In the most simple form, you sell the house to your tenant and get a note in return. 

Showing a property in bad condition is only going to attract low-quality renters.

Build a framework for your prospective investor calls to provide a quality experience for each person 

Thank you again.If you can walk it with the contractor, that would be my #1 recommendation.As a distant second, you could gather up all the photos and vids you have and just send those to your contractor to get their high-level estimate.But, you want #1, not just because it's more accurate, but also because you get to ask your contractor questions as they walk the property to better understand what they are looking for!

There are apartments that allow you a shorter stay than a year, though the apartment prices are a bit high, I don't think that you will waste your money renting so that you get familiar where you want to be.

As for the quality, it depends on company.