So when you need to go check on things, rent units, meet contractors, etc, you're jumping in the car for 6 hours, spending 1hr there, and I'm thinking after a full days's work. 

I also advise participating in regular meetings with them.

REI investing for almost 20 years, owning a wealth management company for 22 years, suffice it to say there has been a lot go data/spreadsheeting/tax analysis/meeting with my team go into this overall decision to sell the entire portfolio at once.  

We have a minimum income requirement to qualify for this unit (4 times monthly rent); based on your email, it appears you meet that qualification.

But then it was a nightmare of communication, we soon realized that we had to do a bunch of songs and dances to convince them to sponsor our deal, it took 4 or 5 days for them to make time to sit down with us only to tell us that we needed to schedule another meeting in another 4 or 5 days to get Tyler on the phone and let us try and convince them to sponsor us and by that time someone else was awarded the deal and we lost out.

You can also check meetup.com or search Facebook for real estate investment groups, clubs, or meetings in your area.

Local meet ups, facebook groups, anywhere hosts are hanging out join them.

You might also meet title agents who have resources on, say, foreclosures or probates…and might recommend lenders who actually lend on more difficult projects (as the title companies also know which lenders can close and which are difficult).I also go visit open houses to see what sorts of finish to put on my renovations or to look for the next house or area in which to purchase.  

Start with networking, go to all events you can and follow up with who you meet.

Plus virtually every city of note has a REIA with monthly meetings and other meetups.