I would like to take a moment and thank those who have inspired me... those who provided information and direction....

The money never comes from the lender directly to me...

Giving them a card with the listing URL makes them be able to access your Airbnb or VRBO listing directly like a website.

So your going to hear a lot of different strategies on here however you have to find what works best for you and master it.You will hear all the Millionaire Real Estate Gurus say the #1 most important asset to have in this industry is being able to find deals.In my opinion the fastest way is "Door Knocking" just simply ask the homeowner directly have they thought about or thinking about selling their house period.

The investors that make a living fixing and flipping and/or building a rental portfolio are those that usually get the leads directly from the seller themselves, a bank contact, a real estate agent, or an attorney. 

This was a direct buyer-seller transaction.

You could've taken the more "stable" route and did the regular 9-5 routine.Your success is a direct testament to the risk you've taken over a # of years in this field. 

Now, if you are in a very competitive market, I can see the benefit of reaching out to the listing agent directly. but still, as a first time home buyer, you should get an agent.

Thank you for the direct replies.

My starting liquid funds are about 100k cash, 150k HELOC, and 250k in a self directed IRA.