It's a technique of building a funnel and eliminating the masses so that you're only showing the rental to people that can actually qualify.For example, I'm renting a single-family home for $1,500 a month.

Sethi believes the following:After inflation, the average return on owning a US residence is zero (Robert Shiller stats)Most people don't factor in the true cost of owning a home (interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance, cap ex, sales commissions)There is a lot of work involved in sourcing and managing rentals (vs alternatives)The masses will not have the perseverance to properly purchase RE investmentsIndex fund investing is easy and provenHe is right on many fronts and is speaking to the masses. 

The thing is I never really get an answer as to where I should be looking for the best options as an alternative.

Very interested in learning different financing techniques and ways I can fund more deals as this is my weak point. 

As an alternative to hard money, you could try to ask for seller financing.

It's considered passive income, and can be used to implement a technique I call "passive pairing" to greatly reduce or eliminate investment taxes.

@Adam CraigSelf showing is a valid technique.

Also I have heard good things about lvp as being a lower cost alternative to hardwood flooring.

Also, look for alternative ways to finance, or different ways to 'control' a property.  

An alternative is working with a team that's already spent that money for you.