I would shop local to your STR.

And I can't really talk shop with my inner group of friends (other than the macroeconomics of CRE).Are there outlets for these types of conversations? 

That seems like a lot and I'd like to shop around -- can someone recommend an insurance agent or broker in Chicago?

A lot of borrowers shop lenders for days to find the "lowest rates" just to find out 3 weeks later that the lender cannot perform on their promise.

Currently shopping around for a convention loan for first home to house hack.

It's like having 20 cars in a garage, all in good shape with maintenance records and all, and calling a local dealer's shop asking for a trade-in value on one of them, while I can comfortably put it on cars.com and sell it to highest bidder or take it off the market if I can't get the top retail dollar on it.

Direct mail is the bread and butter for majority of wholesaling shops.  

Get a strong shop vac with bristle brush and carefully clean off the condensing unit. 

So they'll help you pick the finishes and hand you a shopping list and then you do the rest DIY.

Plus stick with our lenders and don’t shop rates.