I don't recommend throwing the baby out with the bath water, and definitely make sure you understand the nature of the Mentor you choose.BP is a great resource to meet some amazing people. 

just staying totally away from politics, state laws, etc. for a second - just forget that, as that is not my point and that is not why i'm bringing it up - BLUF: Texas is building houses for people to live in, and CT isn't.

Would love to network with some people to get to know the area and the market a little better, as well as to hear about your experiences.

Lenders, Investors, Hard Money, Partners will focus on experience and risk, so bringing value by finding great deals or managing renovations, can help you break in.Keep refining your approach and connecting with the right people!

Think about what would make your rentals more attractive than what’s already available—whether it’s high-end amenities, themed experiences, or a community-focused approach.If you’re open to chatting, I’d be happy to brainstorm ideas or connect you with people who have experience in this space, only know a few but happy to make any intros I can to help you out. 

Focus on learning the basics of MTRs, including their appeal to traveling professionals and the need for furnished properties.

Surrounding yourself with a team brings some risk, but the risk is on your ability to judge people and processes. 

In the end we had to pay to turn the space back in to a white box/shell and closed with basically zero physical assets.

Hard for people to find using just the lookup function.  

Again, if you learn some of the basics, you won't be so nervous about the problems you will eventually face.Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).