As far as meetups go, you can find a lot of local events posted here on BiggerPockets: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...I also have a list of Chicago meetups that I can share with you as well.

As far as continuing the realtor in the conversation after that wouldn't be necessary. 

Its dashboard is so cluttered, it hard to see who has paid and who hasn't.

That just adds a level of complexity to everything.I think there is so much opportunity in the US, that why would you try to complicate everything x10, but investing in someplace like Spain. 

In my STRs the bigger the better as far as bedrooms are concerned.

Because my clientele is so profit-focused, I get daily questions about current real estate market trends.

There is so substitute for experience.

BUT The points they charge and interest are both way higher than normal, on some deals I ran numbers the points and interest were going to be 20k on properties where the ARV is 100k so you have to get properties at such a low price to make it work that it is so hard.

My biz partner and I 100% believe community and building authentic relationships in the real estate space is so important for growth.

This is why construction is so difficult.... most projects have varying site characteristics and designs.