I also developed relationships with lenders during this time.After the 60 day mark, I needed to be back in New Jersey for family events, and looked at a few houses in a town that was new to me .....     

That's a hard thing to do.I don't mind networking events and there is a lot of value in them, but I'd also like to meet other local people without the pretense or expectation that those relationships be likely to develop into some sort of business arrangement.

@Colleen Lawson welcome to BP.If you are in Albuquerque, make sure to find some meetups and other events to join.

That said, all it takes is one serious event and your life can be turned upside down. 

In any event, what you are doing is awesome -  I have two 20 year old daughters in college and I've been trying to nudge them into these types of things. 

In any event, we'd much prefer to rent from mom/pop owners or investors like yourselves who either self manage or use a quality local property management company.

They don't exist, and you can't make them.Knowing what a bad deal they're locked into, Chinese investors who have successfully acquired extra property then look overseas, and they cash out in China to leave someone else with the hot potato and buy up property in HK (before recent events), Australia, Canada, and some cities in the US without many black people (mainland Chinese investors hate buying in areas with black people). 

If anyone has tips for getting started/any good meet ups or events in area I would greatly appreciate it!  

I'd look at two avenues 1) events space and operation (this should qualify for the SBA) 2) sounds like you like the STR concept.

You don't want to acquire a park with expectation of a certain amount of income that will service the debt, and then have a COVID type event or a recession empty your park overnight.