Start by networking with other investors on BiggerPockets who are active in those areas, and make a habit of browsing Zillow and other platforms daily.

Stop hanging out with your deadbeat buddies who spend all day drinking, talking sports, and otherwise wasting away.

., Rental Properties):No Active Business Operations: If you own a rental property that generates passive income (e.g., rent), it typically does not require you to register as a foreign entity in the state where the property is located.

As a hard money lender operating in the Central Florida area, including Tampa, I can tell you that the market here remains strong, with plenty of opportunities for savvy investors.Tampa's real estate market has been quite active, with demand still high, especially in desirable neighborhoods.

That would be my focus and I would actively go after them.

Sorry to hear they have been difficult to deal with but glad to hear you're taking a pro-active approach. 

Mindset is key and just know that this is a business and you would be actively seeking clients and every day you wake up your working for the paycheck you receive in 30-60 days.

I have been actively looking primarily in the Virgin Islands and Bahamas for properties that are ideally within the budget I would like.

These are expenses incurred before your business is active, and they typically aren’t immediately deductible in full, as they are considered part of starting the business rather than ongoing operational costs.To provide more detail, according to IRS rules (as seen in the screenshot), you can deduct the lesser of $5,000 or your total startup expenditures.

I'm always open to S8 tenants but I'm not actively seeking them.