Hopefully, if you are reading this, you will not be lured to actually invest without diving much deeper into how any capital raiser or direct sponsor actually goes about creating that return. 

Which direction should be be looking?

Go for it.Just don't sign up with a brokerage that will charge you monthly fees.You sound like you have a lead source through what you do as a firefighter and you should follow your first mind and become a direct source for those people your getting acquainted with and building rapport.

I think you've definitely helped me get clear on my direction.

I found my laundromat on BizBuySell, and I sold it through that site as well.I still absolutely think it’s worth networking with business brokers and doing direct outreach to business owners, but you don’t need to take listing sites off the table.If you’re sending out a lot of outreach messages on listing sites and you’re not hearing anything back, it may have more to do with you than the platform.

Dennis' dad and I actually tripped over something similar back in Chandler.. we learned to tap into city planning websites and even call the permit offices directly to get a real sense of their backlogs.

Quote from @Jonathan Greene: Quote from @Jamie Parker: Quote from @Jonathan Greene: Those are video game calculations.

A goal gives you direction, purpose, and excitement for the future.

Give them direction. 

The ONLY exception is that a landlord may charge two months' rent if the tenant qualifies for utility assistance, the lease requires the tenant to pay utilities directly to the landlord, and the tenant and landlord agree in writing.