Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Totally recommend it.

If you are looking to work with a STR focused realtor that probably has the most STR sales in the area, is an STR investor himself, has a STR property management company and assists with staging if needed, and can give you a true pulse on the market, I recommend reaching out to @Josh Green.

But I would recommend to narrow your scope and decide what you want to do - and specialize, at least for now.

BDW do you have any agent you can recommend?

I don't recommend it unless you can find a CPA who really understands the syndication space. 

My recommendation is to not only read books, but just continue to educate yourself in anyway possible in network with others who have been doing it for a very long time.

That will typically spook them into catching up or chase them out.I recommend you read some books (see my signature?)

I highly recommend attending real estate networking events to meet more people is this space and pick their brain and learn more from their projects and see what is working and what is not.

I recommend you look at it in several variations.