In short, you can start a virtual meetup, find out who owns the apartment buildings in your city and connect with them, take people out to lunch, and be active on LinkedIn. 

@Joseph Greer to answer your questions on REIAs, the big one in Phoenix is AZREIA, which just happens to be holding its monthly meeting Monday night, 12/14, virtually.

And even though virtually every sponsor agreement allows me to share investment information with others who might be advising me on it (especially when club members are bound by an NDA), I still ask the sponsor if I can share it, because it's a test.

How do people deal with communal furniture in a house-hacking set-up? 

It looked like a murder scene with bloody handprints and smears on the walls and furniture, blood all over the apartment.

@Robert Chad Yoder Hire a virtual assistant to help you vet them and determine which ones actually want to sell and which ones will waste your time.

I would have enjoyed connecting in-person but would still be happy to do so virtually.

Their cabinets are a step above their other furniture and you can't tell.

Now, based on where you are at I would suggest you both 1) knuckle down, pick up overtime and save for the next 6 months, 2) start virtual wholesaling & 3) look into rental arbitrage. 

I owe you a virtual pint!