Lots of people chasing few deals and Contractors with more business than they can handle.

My long-term plan is to have an arm of my business where I develop (and maybe one day build) my own designs to complement the traditional client-led projects.

The only two things I see you could do would be either to owner-occupy or to shop around to other lenders who need your business.

I always present it as a business issue and me not wanting to carry that costs.

Again, I'm sure this business took a lot of work, but I'm almost 35 and don't want to spend the next two decades on a business...

Thank you so much for your insight, and congratulations on creating a successful business. 

What do you want think about helping write a business plan and letter to angel investors to fund thud deal right away?

I'd tighten up the business plan a little bit more.

Here in DC area its killing landlords as well as the small retail as the office buildings are all first floor retail/food service and the govt is not back to office or they are 2-3 days per week which for these businesses is a 406-%+ drop as typically fridays would be the day you go out for lunch etc. and now most people work from home on fridays.

The same amount of work would be involved for a deal 3x as large, focusing on larger deals.Bad tenants will cost you 100's of thousands of dollars.Business associates make better friends than friends make as business associates.