Honestly, as sexy as it sounds to be active and go after them on your own, as a rookie, even with some book education, the real world can knock you on your azz so I would suggest going with a very experienced and proven sponsor.

Looking forward to being an active member of this community.  

Quote from @Marc Shin: why do some investors try to put their new STR's into service towards the end of the year when there is very little active income to offset? 

Hey @Karl Kauper, lots of property owners here (including myself) but maybe not a lot who are active in the forums and own properties in the specific location you mentioned.Also, something to keep in mind, BP is an education company.

The LLC has to do the 1031 exchange because that is the tax return reporting the activity of the property. 

I now have a duplex, and a triplex and actively working on acquiring my third.   

Instead of waiting for others to reach out, take the initiative and actively seek out the top wholesalers and providers of off-market deals in your area.

Be sure to track your activities.

Additionally, my wife and I plan to retire in NC (still a few years out from that ; ) but we're actively planning and focusing our investment strategy in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Start small with manageable properties, mitigate risk with house hacking or partnerships, and stay active in the community.