I was interested in this deal because of its proximity to a planned casino development in Bessemer City, which promised to bring jobs, economic growth, and increased housing demand to the area.

Job growth, population growth, developments, home value growth, etc?

Does anyone here hold a full-time job and do real estate investing on the side, if so what is that like?

This is like a dream scenario for you.

. + 100ks of uber jobs vs demolished IT and finance jobs.

Investing in multifamily properties in Philadelphia is popular due to the city's steady population growth, job opportunities, relatively affordable property values, and solid rental demandPhiladelphia’s multifamily market offers a range of opportunities, from high-end neighborhoods to up-and-coming areas with great cash flow potential.

I moved from Portland OR to Columbus OH because of lower entry costs and strong population and job market growth trends.

What software is everyone using for job costing on flips? 

They do 2 jobs...e.g one job and then Uber or Skip the dishes so they are never really at home but about 10 students living there so 2 per room.

I have heard Texas and most areas would be closer to $100 when its all said and done.You can find good contractors through realtors, HBA in your area, REI Facebook groups and meetups etc.Make sure to check references of past and current clients, visit some jobs in process as you can tell a lot about a contractor by how the job site is kept up and organized.