I would just say that if you're not mailing to the same target as those other guys you're comparing response rate to, then you're not comparing apples to apples and I guarantee you they are targeting equity first and foremost.

In my opinion comparing USleadList and Listsource is like comparing apples and oranges.

It's just apples and oranges.  

Like any business Re has bad apples, good apples , etc.IF your entire business model whether it being a wholesaler or whatever relies on being in the middle of a property sale/purchase and holding a contract that says as much (lease option, rofr etc) by theory of some on this site and elsewhere you are entitled legally to sell your contract to another as you are a principal in the transaction based on you having paid a consideration to the seller. 

As they put their own money into the deals, and need to maintain their reputation with investors, usually only real barn burners are put forward. 

Do one task at a time in each app so you can compare apples to apples.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.

The polarized extremist nut jobs on BOTH sides seem to have taken the steering wheel and one is yelling to drive us off a cliff the other yelling to drive straight into it and us sane people are just in the fetal position rocking back and fourth trying to wake up from this damn nightmare that the crazies have broke out the nut-barn and took over......Careful the BP gods will remove your post.  

The other strategy that I would suggest in Saint Louis is mid term rentals near Barnes' campus.

Granted that's apples and oranges, because the new homes are larger and all in the suburbs, but as long as you can buy an existing home for half the price per square foot than a new construction home I would be careful with expecting peak appreciation.

@Bill Brandt  While technically accurate, your analysis comparing real estate income inside of an IRA to investing personally is an apples to oranges comparison.When an IRA creates gains in the stock market, you are turning capital gains to earned income when you ultimately distribute from the IRA.