No way I spent a career learning what I know about courthouse steps.. someone wants to do it and compete against me then they need to learn it like I did.. 

These agents are typically long-service players in a specific area, with a connection to a no-name small agency whose advertising is usually just word of mouth.

Yes, my properties keep going up in price (and with them, rents), but I'm finding myself delaying non-essential products because I can't find competent workers at a justifiable price.

The thing about me is that I've done things from more than one angle as opposed to a much bigger Player who does only one type of work from only one angle but has a large business doing it all.  

Buy reasonably priced and keep good tenants and stay on top of maintenance and I’m sure it can compete with any SFH or multi family rental.

Alternatively, if they stick with 1k houses but hire more competent rehabbers, it'll cost Zillow a lot more (b/c why would a successful upper tier rehabber sell out and work for Zillow?)

I would set up keyword alerts for Charleston, SC to find out who the players are that are at least active here on BP and get some insight into the market.

All the apartments going up are luxury apartments asking several hundred dollars more a month than I ask so I’m not directly competing with them as they are drawing a different kind of clientele than I do.

If the Investopedia entry is correct, there is a path based on building competence and or experience.

I can’t compete with people wanting to live here.