I already live out in the country so cell service isn't great, but then they lost a number of cell towers and since internet was down just about everywhere, the cell towers were overloaded.

not wrong  just have to look at markets and market conditions.in many areas of the country building new just does not make sense when existing inventory can be bought for far less than replacement costs.. and rents wont change enough new vs old to compensate for it.

If you want seek that golden lifestyle and looking for that hassle free life, perhaps renting that beautiful apartment and travelling to different countries would be ideal.

That is how real investing is done.Read on for more insight...The Real Estate Crash of 2008-2010 caused real estate prices to crash across the country - but didn't affect rent amounts.

We are hopefully (fingers crossed) going to have an accepted offer on an off-market deal in Franklin, NC.

Granted, I self manage so I am meeting tenants, but at the end of the day, getting this gut check on the person I am going to trust living in my property kept me from having any issues with my tenants that would require a "more landlord friendly state".Given the wide swath of the country that is "landlord friendly", I would think more about places you know well and/or have ties to already.  

Then the city made headlines as the highest appreciating market in the country, edging out Miami. 

There is no easement in place, and the driveway could be relocated to the other side of the building or reshaped to avoid crossing the "border".

@Michael PetersRecommend exploring as many sources as possible to get referrals AND cross-reference them to get as much accurate information as possible.Check out NARPM.com, BP’s Property Manager Finder (BiggerPockets: The Real Estate Investing Social Network), etc.Also, encourage you to learn from the mistakes of others - by reading posts here on BiggerPockets about owners not having their expectations met by their current Property Management Company.

And I am not even a germophobe, when you travel in third-world countries you can't be, but I would not get into anyone's bath water if I don't have to, STR, hotel or gym.