I sold my precious business for 1.5M seller carry.

and also like what I do Utilize as STRs: You furnish and list these properties as short-term rentals (STRs) on platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb.Generate Cash Flow: The higher rental income from STRs, compared to long-term rentals, allows you to cover your mortgage/lease payments, generate positive cash flow, and potentially have funds left over for further investments.Positive Cash Flow: STRs often generate higher rental income than long-term rentals, allowing you to cover your costs and potentially profit.Tax Advantages: You can often deduct expenses related to your STR business, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, and maintenance costs.

I still have a hard time understanding how this business model works for them, but perhaps that upfront fee covers for lack of deal flow (?) 

Life and business are complicated.

Quote from @Wesley Peixoto: Quote from @Henry Clark: What type of businesses did you do before.  

In the last 2 months I was receiving a lot of deals in my email account and I received a "great deal" from a small wholesaler; 2 hours later the same property address showed up in an email from one of the "big wholesale companies" 10k dollars more expensive... the property was gone even before I could call the small wholesaler.I believe both are useful and all of us need to make a living, so I understand their role in this business.

Or like many small in businesses you raise cash from friends family and anyone else that knows loves and trusts you.The other thing I suggest is to make that $27,000 or $37000, or $50000 yourself over the next year. 

In addition to real estate, I’m passionate about entrepreneurship and business development.

You can check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), your state’s department of business oversight, or your local real estate community.5.

I would say my end goals would be some financial independence and also some business knowledge through transactions.