Deal was financed through a hard money lender that we developed a relationship with.

They are more likely to want to build the relationship for future business.

I'm planning on going to real estate meetups in the area (I'm in Austin, TX), does anyone have any tips for starting conversation/building relationships as I'm just starting out at these events?

You want to develop a relationship and not be the Out of Town once in a while client. 

But of course Realtors want to establish a working relationship where they invest their time looking, evaluating and commenting on properties for investors in the hopes that investor will buy through them.

But the biggest part of my success has been creating relationships with lenders, lawyers, and investors.Thank you for reading my post and the support.

You don't need to pay for mentorship or for some class, you need to work both sides at the same time via relationship-building.

It’s especially hard on a zoom meeting (hopefully we will be back in person eventually) You are welcome to give it a try and see if the content and relationships are beneficial Wish you great success 

On a personal note, I've only had great experiences using them to find a handy-person where I could see contacting them and possibly establishing a more working relationship for all your properties. 

(Note: I know the biggest risk is my relationship with this person, their honesty, etc.