Not a right or wrong answer based on your investment horizon but a good tool to use.

My time horizon is longer term, and I think the STR market is saturated and not the best experience. 

Construction has already started, with the first building being completed in 2025.Sources:Foulger Pratt WestEndWestEndInova Alexandria HospitalFirst phase of Landmark Mall redevelopment approved in AlexandriaEisenhower / Carlyle Alexandria: 7.6 Million Square Foot Expansion of the Hoffman Town Center on the Horizon Hoffman Co, the current owners of the Hoffman Town Center on the border of the Carlyle District, have long owned six lots totaling 17 acres in the area that have been vacant to this day, and have long had plans in the works for a revolutionary vision for the Eisenhower East Neighborhood.

Crexi and Loopnet will definitely expand your horizon for outreach but I just don't know it if it is worth it if your properties are primarily smaller residential properties. 

Another $500/month on top and I can bring the payoff down to ~6 years, which matches my retirement horizon.

Almost any time I want to learn something new I can locate a book or two or three on the subject and spend very little money to broaden my horizons.

We are expanding our investment horizons into a real estate property.

This helps cut down the investment time horizon. 

Also, what do you think oh houses off of Horizon Rd near W Ralph Hall Pkwy?

Since all these Companies are publicly traded, you can read their yearly 10K'S and quarterly 10q reports. which are very transparent as to how they generate their profits and what risks their seeing on the horizon.