Is it worth it to invest in SC (2021 Edition)

[Matt Thompson]

Hey Guys, 

I'm new to investing and currently live in Rock Hill, SC. I would like to invest somewhere closer to home if it makes sense as far as my goals are concerned. I'd love to get my first rental property within the next year and ideally, it'd be somewhere closer to home but I understand that sometimes the numbers don't always work, and it makes more sense to look in other places. 

I'm looking to start out with buy and hold properties and mainly looking for cash flow. I'm looking at either SFH or even Townhomes if the numbers make sense and something that I would self-manage.

My biggest hindrance to investing in SC is the taxes. It's something I'm still learning about, but I also understand from what I've been told that non-owner occupant taxes in SC almost triple and can eat up your cash flow at the end of the year.

As a result, I've been looking at some places in NC that I'm kinda of familiar with like Gastonia, Hickory, Greensboro, Winston Salem, and Fayetteville.  

I know I've still got a lot to learn which is why I'm here, but I was hoping to get some advice from people with more experience, especially when it comes to SC taxes and just investing in general. 

Thanks!