I am in a very competitive market here in the Tampa Florida area (Clearwater, Saint Petersburg and beach areas). 

It felt like everyone I found were self-serving, looking to line their own pockets, or not willing guide because of fear of competition.

Because there is tons of competition for flat fee brokers for as little as $99.

Starting to look at possibly investing there.Great, but also expensive and competitive.

When you do there’s usually lots of competition.

You’re absolutely right—speed is such a critical factor in securing deals, especially in a competitive market.

I've seen banks be very competitive with blanket loans that cover multiple properties and/or multi-family properties, e.g. 5+ units.Mortgage Brokers (obviously I'm biased) - Brokers have the ability to work with all of the above and can get you to the best lender for your scenario right away instead of having you waste your time with the wrong type of lender.

After House Hacking, or if you can’t find a way to House Hack, you should invest where you feel you have a competitive advantage.

I think because it's so competitive to survive in California, and being accustomed to high prices, they view the rest of the country as opportunity. 

A successful rental property should offer positive cash flow, meaning your rental income should exceed your monthly expenses (mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc.).To find the right tenants, ensure the property is priced competitively within the local rental market.