I try to attend meet-ups as the guy on the other side 😉.

And I'm looking in 3 or 4 different markets in the country.If you are able, attend a local RE meetup and connect face-to-face with agents there.

And the best way to start networking is here on BP and attending your local REIA meetings IMO.

For the public unless you're attending EVERY planning commission and city council/county commissioner meeting you wont hear all of the back and forth.  

I would prefer 4, but I have to make the numbers make sense for me and my current financial position.I attended a webinar last night from a veteran who's been in real estate for years and understands use of the VA loan.

Unfortunately, and maybe I just hit a couple of bad apples, or timing, more, the investment was not returning, tenants were not staying, the majority owners had bigger Fish to Fry so weren’t monitoring and attending to small issues, which then turned into nightmares.

In my opinion, the best "first step" is to find a local REIA to attend. 

But yo have to pay your dues first by connecting, attending and networking.My 2 cents,Mike

Attend the local and regional Real Estate meetups.

Have you tried attending your local REIA's and real estate meet-up groups?