A steady annual growth rate, diverse industries, and affordable living attract residents.

Not know what Eddie Speed is all about, is there a game plan you have for notes?

This is why you need to do a ton of due diligence on them and make sure they have skin and the game and something to lose.

Diversity of visitors.

The more diverse the feedback you get, the more open you will be.

There was a "Syndication Gold-Rush" and with that, a lot of persons with "Gold-Fever" got in vs those with solid game-plans and know-how to PROPERLY do the operations of such. 

Play the long game and focus on rent and home price appreciation.

Alternatively i could go for being a real estate broker and try to get experience in actual real estate without putting too much of my own skin in the game.

Real- Estate  is a lot tougher game now because of technology now allowing buyers, sellers to access the market using the internet without using agents but  you do have hot areas that can support  more bodies .

hope this helps. turnkey might be a good fit for you. but real estate is a long game.