In the burbs this is less of a factor, in the confines of the city it’s a surprisingly effective rule of thumb

How are you going to get "top lenders" to compete for your business,, if you haven't even established a relationship with them?

I’ve built strong relationships with agents, contractors, and other investors in the area, and one of my contacts informed me that the owner was considering selling but hadn’t listed the property yet.

Focus on one strategy, practice analyzing deals, and take consistent small steps like attending events and building relationships.

I’ve watched a lot of videos on how to screen and how to set up work with contractors, so I’m hopeful to build those relationships more in this area in the future.Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

I've consistently written about the forces of nature and her current and future effects on the real estate market (even while often being ridiculed and politicized on this very site for it) regardless: I personally moved and invested in coastal Oregon in 2018 from Venice Beach Los Angeles partly as a result of the trajectory of climate and have assisted several clients that specifically purchased on the Oregon Coast for their own 'climate havens,' investment and future retirement homes. 

Keep in mind that they can increase that period if they get complains from the community, so make sure you're in good relationship with your neighbors.

I’ve built strong relationships with agents, contractors, and other investors in the area, and one of my contacts informed me that the owner was considering selling but hadn’t listed the property yet.

For long-term planning, consider transferring the property into a trust to manage tax and legal complexities.This post does not create a CPA-Client relationship.

They preach relationship building with agents but not everyone has skills to do that. sounds like overpromise under deliver on the "Skill" side