Crowdfunding makes real estate easily accessible, however, in regard to institutional real estate investments, the advice of an expert who works in the industry every day, knows all the players and their track records, and performs due diligence on each offering is a great benefit to you.

Best of luck finding that A Player!!  

Remember to consider the incentives and motivations for each player involved.

@Mike Novak, welcome to BP.

The guys that own multiple houses are the players that you want on your buyers list.

Identify the lenders that are players on this type of property5.

Call some Realtors and find out who the big players are in your area.

The below article also notes that big investment in the strip is back with major players picking up where they left off in 2007-2008.

I recommend finding the active players in your market via the REIAs, here on BP, meet ups, etc.. and pick their brains about what does and doesn't work in your specific area.  

It's taken me a little while but I'm starting to think real estate attorneys and title companies are the biggest $ winners in the current real estate market with all the distressed properties flying through the system.Since I do think the market is only going to improve from here along with competition for deals it has me wondering what secondary players in real estate are going to really make out like a bandit with less financial risk moving forward.There will be the obvious winners again like realtors, contractors , the a/c guy, etc.