If you do decide to go down this road, mayby partner with an experienced investor. 

Trying to assemble a team of investor friendly agent possibly in the Craven County area. 

They have a system, team, and their own contracts, and also provide proof funds, even the EMD. 

In terms of feedback from our team, we’re leaning towards buttoning down the hatches, keeping rent increases low, and focusing on maximizing occupancy in our New England markets.

They've experienced a couple of murders I think in STR and some prostitution problems. 

So, my recommendation is to reach out to an experienced agent and speak to them.

Nothing wrong with partnerships - I have used one to scale way faster than I would have on my own because he brought skills I didn’t have - but if you can do a deal on your own first to get a better understanding of the entire process it may help you identify what you need from a partner and what types of things should be in the operating agreement.As for the operating agreement, be sure you sit down with an experienced attorney who will help go over the dozens of scenarios that may come up and how you would like to handle them. 

Some of those Maryland/DC pages will have experienced investors that can point you in the right direction for local lenders.Hope some of that helps.  

The team got it all planted.  

From experience, proper planning, strong insurance coverage, and networking with experienced investors are key to making the most of an LLC for your investments.Good luck!