And no strong lobbies or anti-STR cities like Vegas or New Orleans.

I've owned rental property off/on for a little while.Back in school, my wife and I owned a duplex that we lived in and rented half (wish we never sold it) - that was here in New Orleans, near City Park.I live in New Orleans (uptown and work in Houma)Recently bought a commercial property in Houma, LA for two of my businesses which was a great move as we were previously renting and my note now is the same as my mortgage.

Also, I live in New Orleans, LA and have a lot of family ties in Charleston, SC.

I'm a local Realtor and investor in the New Orleans area.

You could check online forums like Craigslist as many wholesalers (at least here in new orleans) use it to post deals.

Purchased a short term rental in Eastham (near Orleans border).  

For example, on my units they are all raised (in New Orleans, most houses are raised beam on pile foundations due to BFE (base flood elevation) and local elevation requirements (18in above adjacent grade) ) so they all have stairs. 

Some bright minds have engineered ways around these problems and they will continue to do so, but it sort of feels like New Orleans.

No mortgage or leans on the property.

I am in the nearby New Orleans market and travel through Alabama from time to time on weekend trips to the Florida Panhandle beaches.