You will need to shop around for the ideal lender that matches your criteria and if they are still lending under these criteria.

Ideally, I have two houses that I would like to pay off (and I have a major renovation of a third house that will happen soon).

but sure ideally in CT or surrounding states, but again... we will go anywhere for the perfect building

Purchase 2/1 under 1000 sq ft living area with over 7k lots in areas where the price per sq foot is over $500 per sq ft (a lot of areas in LA county) : fixers purchase them anywhere between 90% to 70% of ARV (they can even be at 100% of ARV as in retail) if in a great area and a great lot. and ADD 500 to 1000 sq ft to living space | Renovate existing sq ft to match new home | ADD ADU (2nd unit or convert the garage). 

I have worked hard to build up a very loyal customer base so I can be choosy in whom I deal with. 

Best Real estate agents you know with experience in working with investors and ideally who personally invest in real estate1.

I think I may have asked them years ago but can’t remember.My ideal situation is for the property tax bills to come to my home address especially the assessment notice so that I can appeal if necessary (I pay the actual bill online and know around which time of year to pay).And then for any issues with the city/county to go directly to management. 

Then where you decide to live, go ahead and house hack ideally a 2-4 unit property.

Most contractors I know in this area are sitting on less than $10k in personal assets total (except their tools, haha), so the liklihood of them being able to actually pay instead of "going bankrupt" is questionable.So, from a few years down this road speaking back what I would encourage you to do is:  Figure out the process to "make it right" with the city, ask the contractor to pay for that (pay you back ideally, since they couldn't be trusted to do it right the first time), and then kick them to the curb. 

Your cash flow is adjustable because the taxes are so high in NJ, but with that much to spend your ideal set up would be a three-family or two-family with an extra unit where you could live in the small unit and cash the other two larger ones.