People who buy and sell regularly will know the market and the players.  

Look at places like Oahu where overnight 90% were made illegal.2, SFHs are dollar for dollar very inefficient, financing is easy and they are more liquid but your most valuable asset is time so if you go into STRs and SFHs you could find yourself at a loss of years before you gain traction.3, Watch what the big players are doing (I know that some hedge funds are buying SFHs but not at the rate as large multi-family)4.

Something that will catapult you in is establishing a working relationship with a real estate player who you respect.

I'm just saying that even as a small player when compared to the big 5, nothing I do is without scrutiny as a lender/investor from some ambulance chaser looking to shake a few bucks off of my tree.

Pro poker player eh? 

Hi DeanI'm a big fan of the revolving credit idea myself, alas still a small player with 0% credit cards, personal loans (which don't stick around long) and a new offset account I've started.I was just wondering which facilities you have seen clients or yourself have success with?

How can beginning investors with limited experience (especially with time constraints due to family and work) who are willing to work hard get the attention of the bigger players?

I have some OOS properties in multiple state and I would say the PMC is the best team player rather than the house itself.

Once you decide that, there are usually a handful of big players in each space.  80/20 rule. 

The players in the area will know the good ones.