What helps break the fear of going forward with the first rental property and get the snowball rolling?

Ignore social expectation, and don't let the fear of others drive your decisions.  

(I fly private on my big jet with 300 of my closest friends and allowed Spirit to wrap it for marketing purposes :-) )Oh, I got a chuckle out of that.As you know, here on BP we get a lot of people selling FOMO, the fear of missing out.

Deals to me MADE . . . not easily had, but still you can find angles and force appreciation, or buy in ways that others are fearful to buy.OKC is a fine market. 

Optimism, Panic, Fear, Hope, Denial?

I don’t mind waiting, but fearful my home wouldn’t value close because they are new and I lose out on a deal while I am waiting.

You think there’s certain investments they won’t touch for the fear of backlash ?

You’re more likely to discover “pocket listings,” deals that brokers know about but sellers don’t want to list for fear of alarming tenants or management.Become hyper observant.

So I too fear I’ll have to move farther east in the next 10 years.  

You will have more to choose from and less competition once covid fears subside and rates rise.