My current goals are to simply connect with others, and continue to work with investors to strike lucrative deals in the current market.

Striking out so far here but Google STR manager in south Florida and read their reviews.

Unit Count: 8  Unit break down: 2 BR, 1 BAUnit SqFt: 650  Build Date: 03/07/1985  Original Sales Price: 50,000.00Assessed Value: 477,300.00  Strike Price: 500,000.00  Contract Price: 481,000.00Final Sales Price: 476,500.00EST ARV: 750,000.00  Rehab budget: 60,000.00Parcel size: 9,500 SqFt  Contract Date: 02/12/2021  Closed Date: 03/19/2021Occupancy: 6 of 8 rented, 1 moving out within 30 days of close.

Market research where tell you where you want to be and where you don't, and give you a good idea of what to expect out of a certain area or submarket, this will allow you to move quickly and surely when an opportunity presents itself.Analyze everything, start looking at the properties you pass everyday, pick one and research it from address to strike price do this until you are able to get it done quickly and efficiently don't wait until there is a deal in front of you to try and figure out how to analyze it, its to late to figure out how that game is played and what numbers work and don't when the contract is in front of you do that home work before hand when the clock isn't ticking.Finally this, Networking is key both online and in person, look into local REI groups and get active on the forums, get used to talking to people about RE and your goals. 

But to hire a small fee contractor while you keep all the profits of landlording and then demand indemnification against lawsuits from them, doesn’t strike me like a good faith and fair dealing.

If it's multi-tenant and there's mezzanine, that's two more strikes.

And that does not in any way make you correct, because there is a 0.000000000001% chance of asteroid strike that will kill millions there in "no way of forecasting housing market for this year we are begining".

And a strike price for the sale that builds in some appreciation you'll just about make yourself whole just by that.Then when you sell you do a 1031 exchange and defer all the tax anyway. 

So far I've been striking out a bit.I'm looking to pay less than $10,000, ideally something in the $6500-7500 range.  

You can't afford to strike out on your first one.