In order to network with wholesalers and lenders the best way to go about it will be to attend the local REIA like The Greater Houston REIA and also joining the local investors facebook groups. 

Quote from @Ray Joseph: If you attend a local meetup, I'm sure you'll find investors that operate in other cities or states.And you have thousands of out-of-state investors to mingle with right here!

Maybe network with local hunting ranches see if you could find an investor to help manage the property, the wildlife, advertising and lodging. 

As far as meetups go, you can find a lot of local events posted here on BiggerPockets: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a list of Chicago meetups that I can share with you as well.

Zero in 2024 in Huntsville - which is precisely why we bought zero LTRs in 2024 locally (bought one out of state, and bought a local flip property and one small local commercial property - slowest year since I started REI in 2017). 

One needs to have outstanding local market knowledge to underwrite effectively. 

Right now, I’m in full research and networking mode—learning about Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, connecting with local investors, and exploring my first investment.

Best bet is to try local and credit unions, possibly may have some programs for better rates.

Hi does anyone have experience with providing direct STR stays (so not through Airbnb or VRBO) and charging, collecting, and remitting the local Chicago hotel tax?

I highly recommend investing in a property management software, such as Hospitable, for syncing your calendar, automating messaging, and scheduling cleans, as well as a dynamic pricing tool, such as PriceLabs, for optimizing your pricing based on market demand, local events, and seasonality.