I've gone to multiple auctions (Philadelphia Sheriff's Sale), inquired of vacant/distressed properties directly with the owners, worked with random realtors after expressing interest via real estate websites (e.g.

Same with random Mattress Firms or something.

All random companies.

Some may not live in the country, like in my case, but at least you are choosing at random and not being fed their best investors.

Once every 6 months unless there's a reason to do it more often like suspicion of a lease violation but I tell my tenants when they sign the lease that I do random inspections twice a year or so and its for their benefit so if there's maintenance I need to do, it gets done.

In my opinion, buying a house in any random city and deciding to short termIt because you can “probably” make more money is not a smart move.

I have a wide professional network of high income earners who do not do anything with their money and I have already started the vetting process of talking to some of them... mostly randomly at kids' birthday parties. 

Instead of spending 20k for a random seminar, use the money for your first down payment on a property.Need motivation? 

But just a random stab in the dark they want you to overpay IMO 500 extra for the headache of a STR isn’t worth it, plus you’d have to furnish it and pay for all the utilities.  

They will have more information on the property than just a random buyer's agent and they are happier to work with you and show you the property because if you buy directly from them they are getting the whole commission and not splitting it with a buyer's agent.