@Selena Harrison, I would just continue to do what you're doing: research, read everything you can get your hands on, and link up with your local REI's groups and meetup.com.

I realize that the number of leads will be slim, but they're free and easy to access, so I do want to continue using CL and driving for dollars.

Prices can't continue at the rapid pace that it was on. 

Lock in your money now and as rates continue to rise you'll see more and more rentors staying in the rental market longer.But beware because the rising interest rate climate could change quickly and with a correction we could see govt policy in a heartbeat that reduces barriers to borrowing and ownership. 

Continue paying rent/utilities until a replacement tenant is found.

save up for the downpayment, meet, learn from and court lenders, analyze the continual stream of properties coming on and off the market, start building your support network which you'll rely on when hosting, and you'll know when the time is right.

When you know that you have a buyer for any deal that you contract, you want to keep them happy by continually bringing them deals.

Hi Amy,To be licensed as either a Broker or an Associate Broker, you must have been actively licensed as a salesperson and/or broker in Delaware, any other jurisdiction or combination of jurisdictions for five continuous years immediately before filing the application.I pulled this info from this website: https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/realestate/resbroker Best of luck, there are a lot of great people on this board that should be able to point you in the right direction.

Seems to me they’ll continue to allow STRs but the regulations will target to only allow locals that want to subsidize their mortgage.

I recommend you leave them your contact information and continue to follow up on occasion.