Gotta love great timing and intuition.Let me just say this first off, financial independence through real estate is within your grasp.

I'd try an independent mortgage broker.

Small satellite cities that are that far from a metropolitan statistical area are not attractive to me.

My recommendation is to start with what is called a "top down analysis" which involves choosing an Metropolitan Statistical Area, then a sub-market within that MSA, then a specific multifamily product type and then you will work on choosing the correct property.Step 1: Analyze nation wide population, job, supply/demand and multifamily transaction trends in markets which you are interested in. 

One of our main issues is I have been a 1099 employee/ independant contractor.

Check out this newbie guide https://www.biggerpockets.com/financial-independence-blueprint/new

Every one of these types of lenders are independent businesses and do what they want.Don't pay to be pre-qualified without knowing you qualify first by talking to them.

I don't know the statistics.

I was just trying to get him to sign an independent contractor agreement and a scope of work sheet.

    The 1099 form is for a person that is a independent worker.