However, I'm having difficulty narrowing down a few markets, such as Tampa or Kissimmee/Orlando.

Your interest rates are low. 8.5% is around the "market rate" for owner finance buyers right now...30-yr, fully-amortizing2.

If this is not something you're interested in delving into and learning to a high degree, then investing in publicly traded REITs would be another good option for you, which have historically returned about 13.5 per cent Per year over the past 50 years (1977-present), beating the US stock market by two per cent and even beating private real estate investing by 4 per cent (that's compared with the average real estate investor, not the experts here at Bigger Pockets).

To look at it from the other side, as a private money lender in my local market I need someone to find me the deals.

Inside track to properties before they go to market/general public.2.

Overall, it's going to be up to the state and local governments to enact changes that will affect the local housing markets.

My only tip is to stay on top of the market rents in your area.

There is an much art as science in financial projections and numbers change with the market.  

At that percentage on that rent amount I suspect it is not all inclusive, but I do not know that market.  

Seems like you're just a marketer working on a contract basis (not that I'm defending the program or even saying it's legitimate).