do some odd jobs--plenty of contractors are looking for help...start a lawn care business (extremely popular right now), work for a company that's involved with real estate such as a property manager, title company or hard money company (F-Street is often hiring) or a real estate investment company? 

A lot of the popular, no money needed, strategies like being a wholesaler, getting a partner to fund the deal, or STR co-hosting / arbitrage are a bit of a paradox because the people that have the expertise to effectively implement these strategies are typically the experienced folks that don't need no money down strategies to invest.

I bought my rentals in Killeen while at Fort Hood early 2010s, including quadplexes. 2-4 families seem to be especially popular around military installations perhaps?

Do research on what are the most popular for STRs and if there is a missing niche in the area. 

Propstream seems to be very popular and I signed up for an account but I'm confused about what to do once I have a list of leads.

But I'm also of afraid of missing out on a good opportunity to get a townhome in a expensive popular area at the price point and interest rate I find to be favorable. 

The more popular posts and youtube videos talking about investors killing it and sitting back for mailbox money should be looked at with skepticism. 

Popular theme that can be difficult to execute however increasingly there are borrowers with pandemic era mortgages that are selling and the mortgage can essentially transfer (be assumed) by the next owner.

Hello @Ryan Daulton,A popular question.

The book 'How to win friends and influence people' is also very good and more popular.