My contractor is a skilled tradesman who won't beg me for work or give me discounts even though I told him I am an investor cry cry cry...

Readers are advised to seek professional advice. 

How to execute a 1031 exchange build to suitHow to operate and self manage a co-living propertyDid you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I frequent the MKE events.Leverage Your Skills: Highlight your project management expertise and strong contractor relationships when negotiating deals.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

These investors were looking for Passive income, but they didn’t realize they had to fill the role as an Investment banker and they didn’t have the skill set or systems to do that.  

Here are some other strategies:Investor Networks: Share through local REI groups or investor meetups in Colorado and Ohio.Direct Outreach: Use mailing lists or email campaigns targeting known investors or real estate firms.Social Media: Post in real estate forums or Facebook groups for investors.Websites for Property ListingsRoofstock: Specializes in selling single-family rental properties to investors, offering built-in tools for analysis.BiggerPockets Marketplace: A hub for active real estate investors, perfect for promoting rental properties.Auction.com: If you’re open to auctioning properties, this platform reaches a broad investor audience.RealtyMogul: Offers connections to individual and institutional investors, especially for multifamily properties.MyHouseDeals: Focused on connecting with investors looking for fix-and-flip or rental properties.Zillow Rental Manager: While more general, it can still attract landlords looking to expand portfolios.Mashvisor: A great platform to market properties with detailed cash flow and rental projections.PropertyShark: Targets real estate professionals and investors with access to detailed property data.These can help you reach a broader audience and possibly sell faster.

It requires skills to maximize returns.  

House hacking can also be a solid way to offset expenses early on.It sounds like you're diving in with a great mindset and skill set—being handy and managing yourself puts you ahead of the game. 

This was buying dead brands where PROFESSIONALS in those particular industries in question couldn’t avoid bankruptcy and every single major brand in those industries failed to bid even a minimal amount to buy those brand names  - because they knew those brand names were worthless.