Our argument is - especially in the geographic region of the NC Blue Ridge Mountains - there is a strong desire for tiny homes, vacation rentals, and investments.

PLUS hard to ridge vent. 

Particularly in East Tennessee (Oak Ridge or Knoxville) where I know people who live there so I would have "boots on the ground."

There is River Ridge Escrow and Oshea & Oshea out of the Cedar Rapids area.

So, if you do happen to purchase a duplex in certain cities with in the Denver Metro area (ie Centennial, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Northglenn, Unincorporated Adams County) you can still operate the other end of that duplex as a STR. 

The one I mentioned was for powder ridge.  

I currently have an SFR in LA, 3 in Atlanta, and  short term in Blue Ridge GA.

Pleasant Ridge, Kennedy heights, Norwood, Silverton, Oakley, Hyde Park, Madisonville.  

Some big mountain markets I still like for first buys are Gatlinburg, Blue Ridge, and the Western NC Mountains. 

So I think you're on the right track with Fed Hill, Fells, and Ridgely's Delight (Camden Yards).