This year I am ready to make my first step towards financial independence.

Are you ready for all this?

Quote from @Shawn Questa: A few times I've reached out to Cash Buyers and they would tell me that they are a part of an Investment Group and that they are ready to quickly Close Deals would be happy to work with me.Later I would come to find out that they are actually a Group of Wholesalers, like me.I guess I would prefer to Work directly with the Investor, Cash Buyer or Flipper. 

Narrowing our focus on ideal clients has made us more efficient overall.

In the last few years, they've made illegal:-Rent controls of any kind-Limiting of fees or screening charges-The ability of HOAs to regulate STRs or LTRs in their neighborhoodThat's just the start.

Almost every realtor has several investors ready to invest at least $2 million in cash.If you’re planning to use hard money loans, agents won’t show properties without prior proof of funds.I’m curious, is this a general market trend in Ohio or just this particular realtor’s approach?

Sorry you must not be ready for the bigtime or anytime. 

Too many people are sleeping on this.Kentucky Economic Development has many site ready properties in smaller areas that are ripe for rentals. 

We're new to real estate and would appreciate advice on our current home in Texas and our future place in Oregon.We love our house in Austin and aren't ready to sell, but as a long-term rental, it would yield (from what I understand) negative cash flow, covering principal and interest but not taxes and insurance.

They made it like they were ready to apply, but did not apply yet.