Can anyone offer any advice on how to word the offer to win in a competitive market while getting the price I need?

If it's the later,, more than likely your over market price or not offering suitable terms.Get out look and at the competition and get a perspective of your price setting.Usually a rental is advertised well in advance of the present tenant vacating and your in the wrong end of the loop people looking for rentals now are planning on vacating December 1st,, people usually look 60 days in advance to get perspective if they are going to give notice where they are to relocate in 2 months.

And until you're very well established, you'll rarely be the only one they talk to, so you'll usually be bidding competitively, and there's always someone who's willing to overpay.The last thing DFW needs is another clueless wholesaler pitching deals that have overstated ARV and underestimated renovation costs.

I really like some things about this market even though it's competitive. 

I do know that it's rather competitive and not very lucrative in Los Angeles but not sure about Little Rock...

One of the main reasons I have upgraded to an paying member of BP was because of the marketplace, and since the upgrade I have posted 3 property I had for sale here in Toledo, Ohio... (1) A multi unit that I sold through social media marketing (2) A SFH in a B- class working neighborhood that I told my mentor about whom ended up buying it(3) A Large 5bed 5bath home in the Historic Old West End (an A class neighborhood) that I have yet to sell but a local couple (that again seen it on another site) whom is pre approved plans to put it under contract after they learn more about the FHA 203k loan process.Now with other marketing sites I got a email or a call on each of these listings from investors EVERYDAY but I have yet to have any serious inquires about any of the 3 listing besides a few other noses/curios local investors that just wanted to check out the new competition in town lol.

It depends on where you are focusing on, but overall it has been competitive. 

Definitely very competitive right now, but still plenty of opportunity out there.

So much competition in Palm Beach right now they're only ruining the market for each other by driving prices up to the point where there's not enough profit left in the deal.

There also didn't seem to be a lot of competition in this town for being a landlord.