It probably would have cost me about $10k more, but I would have still been able to secure the property.

You must keep the tenants security deposit at a bank that physically operates a branch office in the State of NC.  

Provide clear instructions on where and how to pay to avoid confusion.Recover Security Deposits: The current property manager is legally obligated to transfer tenant security deposits to you or the new management company.

I doubt they have any security measures against brute-force attacks on your account password. 

In short, securing an STR permit isn’t easy unless you fulfill all the township’s requirements

I got the Discover It Secured card in high school and used that to build up my credit. 

Ensure you collect a proper security deposit (typically one month's rent in Florida) to cover potential damages.Your plan to increase rent next year makes sense given rising costs (taxes, insurance, and maintenance).

Would we see increased cross-border transactions and a surge in property investment opportunities?

Leveraging our market connections, we identified the property’s potential and negotiated favorable terms directly with the seller, securing it at a highly competitive price.

When I started, I  submitted great deals to a corporate cash buyer,  they went behind my back and secure the deals with the sellers, after the  contracts expired.