I currently run a successful Airbnb and want to expand but am having trouble connecting with owners or real estate agents to help.

Intel is a great example, who is building the largest chip manufacturing plant in the US right here, and it will be a $20 billion dollar investment that brings a few new thousand jobs.https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/21/intel-ohio-building-computer-chip-factories-licking-county-jersey-township/9173472002/ Another example of economic growth is the upcoming Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital which is a 1.9million square foot hospital that will bring over 800 new beds and a thousand new jobs. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/new-osu-hospital-expected-to-transform-health-careHere are a few more recent investments https://www.10tv.com/article/money/business/hydrogen-power-company-hyperion-bringing-700-jobs-to-columbus/530-25907aab-5517-4661-a9f3-d2ed2d5be6b0 https://news.wosu.org/news/2022-02-08/rumpke-to-build-50-million-recycling-facility-in-columbus Check out The Complete Guide to the Columbus, Ohio Real Estate Market which goes through the Columbus, Ohio market in depth and will give you a better scope of where the highest levels of growth are taking place and where to look to invest. 

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Hello allLooking to learn as much as possible in the real estate industry 

Non-recourse lendershttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/2810/50272-list-of-non-recourse-lenders-for-self-directged-ira-and-401kSolo 401khttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/2810/21298-solo-401k-advantagesSdira self directed ira https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/2810/blog_posts/28450-real-estate-iraProhibited Transactionshttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/2810/44738-prohibited-transactions-for-a-self-directed-solo-401k-or-checkbook-iraDisqualified Personhttps://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/2810/47960-disqualified-person-in-a-self-directed-ira-or-401k

I offered to fund rehab in 2nd position to learn the ropes.The best advice I've been given about real estate is that it's all about relationships.

TBD Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Commercial financing with 20% down.

I am currently studying for my real estate license and analyzing the local market.

@Carmen Lapham- There are episodes in the "The Real Estate Investing Podcast" with Daniel Apke and Ron Apke that address this.