I look through a variety of channels - MLS feeds, LoopNet, tips from brokers/agents, reaching out to PMs, asking if their owners want to sell and finally direct mail.

Of course, this is an excuse.We only lend to flippers, and only in southern California, so this is a particularly sensitive topic and something I think about frequently.

I’m in the Syracuse NY and frequently work with investors looking for rental properties.

Like you said, its likely going to depend on a variety of factors depending on the property.

That's the properties i currently hold, a few more properties and i will be bringing in what i make right now working, in cash flow, and i could live off of that, the rest will be all theirs. i have done a some flips, i have made as little as $100, i have also made $50,000, so there are ways to get money when needed but no matter which type of investing you are doing it is always a gamble, but i think a variety of ways is your best bet, you are taking risks yet having some safe investments for those down times, the next best area may be the worst financial investment if you do not time things right, either buying or selling.There are probably investors out there that lose money on their properties but it is a tax advantage/ strategy for them and down the road when they sell, or their kids inherit, it would be worth a lot of money to either one. if you make a lot of money and you need a place to " dump " it, a losing property is a good hiding place especially if the kids inherit it later at current market value.There is no wrong way to invest, as long as you have a plan and an exit strategy.

With different rental approaches such as Mid-term (or month to month), we also frequently adjust and re-evaluate pricing in the off-season or winter months as needed in order to get a unit filled and avoid long-standing vacancies.Depending on your focused market, I can recommend a solid investor-focused lender that may be a good fit to strategize on how to get you into your next property. 

I’ve experienced a wide variety of permitting/City planning tar pits in my construction career.  

You mentioned a wide variety of interests - so my suggestion is to focus on one or two that really resonate with you and dive in.

Hard money lender is typically higher interest for a shorter loan period, and are frequently used with fix and flips since it’s a quick project.

Frequently this same property will show up on the next sale a couple months later only to be taken off again.