Sometimes it can be cheaper to build than it is to buy existing however in most areas of the country right now it will take you minimum three years to develop a project and ground up get it to stabilization so you need to consider the time factor.

I'm also available for meet ups if anyone has the free time I would love to talk to someone in my area that invest to really pick their brain and help develop a network.

If so then you have what might be a golden opportunity to give yourself some runway to develop your strategy for real estate  before having to jump into the tight time lines of the 1031. 

Under what circumstances would this make financial sense?

Hiring an attorney to work with you to develop one that is functional, and appropriate in your locality is imperitive.

My thought is to go with a community bank to try and develop a relationship with them in the hopes of using them for refis and loans down the road. 

(I expect this to go up to $2000 in 3 years once the Solar Uniquartier is developed).

I know alot of new developments are going in out toward Rideout road.

If I develop a sales funnel that works incredibly well at pre-screening and qualifying only sales listing leads, would it make sense to focus on generating these leads (locally first but then maybe regionally) and passing them on to other agents to follow through and close, simply sharing the commission, agreeably, in exchange?

There's a strong demographic of folks who are into publications like Dwell, Archdaily, Treehugger, etc. that are very interested in modular/prefab construction and in some cases that fact alone can lead to quite a bit of buzz especially around new development.