If you're looking at buying a rental or house hack in the Triangle, then you should consider short term rentals. 

I know it’s no longer legal to do wholesaling in SC but let’s say you have the money to buy the property and you can turn it around.

With that strategy, I'm not a real estate agent BUT I am also reading a book called "BUY, REHAB,RENT, REFINANCE, REPEAT.

Otherwise, the tenant will make excuse after excuse to buy more time as they fall further and further behind.To find an attorney, suggest you visit your local court and lookup the landlord-tenant docket to ID attorneys with the most cases.

I live in Ocala and have never heard of this company, but that doesn't mean anything since I prefer to buy already built properties and rehab them. 

Easy Street is a good option BUT you need CASH in liquid checking/savings for down payment of 20% and BIG chunk 2-3 times loan amount to buy out of a prepayment penalty.

Buy a duplex or triplex or quadplex with an FHA and live in one unit and rent the others.

So back to being a real estate investor: the only way to be one is to buy a property and create value out of it, whether through finding a below market value house and selling for a profit, or renting and creating cash flow.  

If you buy less or take cash out you will pay tax on that amount. 

We have also toyed w/the idea of buying/moving into fixeriuppers and selling every 2 years.