It seems to me you are basically just looking to wholesale but you also provide a contractor to go with it.

I found a private lender, and looking for, contract, or ideas where to go, for what others use to show the bank that we have a recorded mortgage already?

We are partly done with the renovation, and our contractor can't continue working.

If I do go with a semi-fixer-upper, are there any recommended contractors for estimating upgrade costs?

The damage done to roof with mounting and other insurance issues usually outweighs any positives.Sounds like they have a company exec or hired contractor to call on possible sites and see who they can get cheap rent from. 

The icing on the cake is that it was our current contractor that asked this question. 

We contacted a few contractors and had an engineering company have a look before we backed out on the deal.

Realtors, Title Companies, Lenders, Contractors, PM's, or whatever else. 

The minute I put a REAL (not wholetail) DEAL under contract I would reach out to each of them with a PDF presenting the property, the comparable sales within 0.25mi, pictures, and a full rehab estimate from my contractor.

Sounds like a great way to die young and not get to enjoy the empire you built.