Anything and everything that you can do to show others (and prove to them) that you have a talent for selecting properties and producing actual results.If you do that, people will take notice. 

Some jobs that help are by being a waiter at a restaurant or try getting a job in property management or something real estate related of some sort.

.: I have to disagree with Rod, sort of. 

When you said it came as runnerup, what criteria have you used to select it.  

I don’t think it matters one way or the other just make sure they have some sort of online portal.

To avoid going through the same poor experience, keep reading.Even if someone gives you a referral here, do NOT make the mistake of assuming that the PMC will meet your expectations, just because they met the expectations of the referral source.In our experience, the #1 mistake owners make when selecting a Property Management Company (PMC) is ASSUMING instead of CONFIRMING.It's often a case of not doing enough research, as they don't know what they don't know!

You might also meet title agents who have resources on, say, foreclosures or probates…and might recommend lenders who actually lend on more difficult projects (as the title companies also know which lenders can close and which are difficult).I also go visit open houses to see what sorts of finish to put on my renovations or to look for the next house or area in which to purchase.  

Some investors look for cash flow and some look for appreciation and there are investors who need to merge the two in order for the deal to be considered good.I think identifying what sort of investor you are looking to become should be answered first. 

A good real estate accountant can save you thousands of dollars by leveraging entity selection and formation, tax deductions, cost segregations, bonus depreciation and tax planning.I recommend finding an accountant who specializes in real estate taxation, business taxation, financial planning and tax planning.You may want to consider working with your accountant remotely to expand your options.I would also recommend looking for a accountant willing to work with you throughout the year.

BIG bonus is you snag something with Timber that will grow and you can do a selective harvest 20 years from now the Timber could end up paying for the building of the home.