I've heard that they are few and far in between and that they can influence the outcome of a deal in a big way. 

How can you possibly value add or influence an IRR outcome when you cant even vote?

Money Down - Brandon TurnerHow to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale CarnegieNever Split the Difference - Chris VossThere are lots of great book suggestions in the forums.

Housing can be influenced by their labor and business decisions.

Buying it yourself for a bit less may or may not influence the price of the other homes for sale in the area, but in the long run, it shouldn't make much of a difference if everything else is selling for market value.

Let's stick together and recognize that we have substantial influence as a community.

It is also market influenced, but market requires access. 

I think I was really influenced in my suggestion by an Austrailian TV show about STRs that just came to Netflix (it's called Instant Hotel).

There can be specific circumstances that influence the entities used to perform transfers like this, so it would be important to find an attorney who know how to set it up right.

It's still obviously going to be influenced by the larger market, but most people, it seems, move to the villages to intentionally get away from the 'hustle and bustle'.