I'd first slow down and develop some sort of subject matter expertise.

It's not for a lack of trying.I've asked him to try working some other channels to see what we can put together for you.Sorry for any slow communication; it's a crazy time in the markets and the low/tight inventory has made it rather challenging for everyone in the industry.I'll follow up with Micheal more tomorrow.Feel free to contact me anytime!

REI is a slow moving train.

So, do you have any advice for a first-time house-hacker wishing to jump into the appreciating deep end and swim with the sharks? 

Even short comments from professionals seem like much better alternatives than my deep contemplation.

It has been a slow steady drop

Everything else takes twice as long as it should take anywhere else. 20 years ago I had a developer in my office that had just relocated up here from Florida and was complaining about how long everything takes, how slow subs were, and how impossible it was to keep anyone on payroll.

Live here, though.I'm deep in the RTP area, too, investment wise.

I didn't dig too deep here, but at least one SC county notes on their website that your interest in the property doesn't actually vest until after the expiration of the redemption period. 

If you are looking for slow appreciation and high cash flow, look at the midwest and part of the south.