I live in Royal Oak and would love to buy there, but the market's too hot in this area and price vs cashflow isn't attractive to me. 

Even if you've done all the math correctly, making $250/month on $70,000 of equity isn't a very attractive deal.

I don't use them anymore though because tile looks better and attracts a better class of tenant.

People will be attracted to not only the property, but also to you as a landlord.

Our community is becoming more and more attractive to "suitcase entrepreneur" types so the jobs issue isn't quite as important as it is other places.

In the meantime, ask yourself what keeps attracting people to Denver. 

Anyone have any innovative strategies, success (or failure) stories, or just any general advice in attracting and connecting with institutional investors?

Lastly whatever page and or platform you decide to have a presence on you have to make your page/account attractive.

That is a trick used by sellers to attract novice investors into paying above market prices.

My advice to you is to find a run down duplex, put your 3.5% down payment in and use your other cash to fix your duplex up to a standard that would attract nicer tenants and demand a better rent per month.