New built for starting out could be a bit challenging.

Only challenge (as you and others have touched on) is scalability.

That said, there's quite a few homes in that area that have that challenge (no driveway/street parking).

I eventually want to buy a house but I think as a novice this will give me some experience and the opportunity to learn the challenges that I will need to overcome once I do buy my property. 

It is challenging in the winter months as people tend to focus on the holidays, shopping, dinners, parties, etc.

The challenge is, I’m not familiar with the local market—or the Mississippi market in general.Does anyone have insight into the market in this area or know of investors interested in properties in western Mississippi?

Challenges?

I do not know him, but the path he is leading you is a difficult path    Note difficult does not imply impossible; there are people who are successful with S8 housing    In my area s8 is so undesirable that they write laws trying to make it challenging to not allow S8 tenants.  

@Charles GranjaWhile you certainly make valid points, I’ve come to realize that this unscrupulous company is quite devious, and getting things transferred from them could be a challenge.

i agree with you on the tough environment there for purchasing / house hacking but I wouldn't give up on that regardless of what else you look into. house hacking = owning real estatewildly successful arbitrage = not owning any real estatecan you look in Frederick MD or Fredericksburg or Ashburn or an exurb?