Always recommend doing a soft-pull especially since not sure exactly when you'd find a property but you can get qualified and get some estimates.  

I would recommend looking for local FB investor groups, most areas have them!

For liability purposes our financial advisor is recommending creating a LLC for managing all of the STR stuff.

If the home has a really nice layout or beautiful interior and it's not getting many showings, I would definitely recommend a video tour.

build to rent is great. they are an intermediary that help investors contract direct with turn key new build. they are pretty sophisticated we have sold a house so far and we are looking to sell other multifamily with them. there is a vetting process and as an intermediary they don't control construction they help vet builders and establish relationships. they have a big team. the other builder I've never heard of but unless you can see your house I wouldn't touch it. rent to retirement has a strict policy of 90 days until certificate of occupancy until they will send a deal out they are good at what they do and I'd recommend them. they have options all over the country and established relationships.

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

RodriguesHe is so consistently pricing my clients above and beyond their lenders and I couldn't recommend him enough!

Most professionals will recommend a separate LLC for every $1 million in assets, but I don't think that's necessary.

I always recommend it as a good place to start.

Beyond trying to connect on this forum would recommend look in the BP Meet up section and checking out local DFW FB RE investor Facebook groups as well as Meetup.com and Eventbrite for local events.