With all of these tools I felt like I have what I need to be comfortable with running my own properties. 

If you run into an agent who refuses to accept contracts, they are in violation.

Its interest income - unless you wanted to run it through a C corp but then you pay corp tax first.Other option is to use a deferred retirement account. 

Managing money might not seem as exciting as closing deals, but it’s one of the most crucial aspects of running a successful real estate business.

There is not enough room on this page to go over everything you will need and what it costs to open and run a successful mortgage broker shop.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are both extremely strong right now , with most people overpaying in the years that you mentioned and simply not KNOWING OR CARING  how to properly run a top notch Air BNB. 

Give them a portion of the profits from the STRs and have a buy-out clause when you have the funds to refinance.I am sure there are many other potential options for you to look into, but just off the top of my head these 5 came to mind.

I like the BIGGERPOCKETS calculators for running numbers on these types of deals.

Proximity is a plus for managing the property, but make sure to run detailed numbers to confirm the cash flow and long-term potential align with your expectations.

With the right agent, you'll learn how to run the numbers and establish a network of lenders, investors, other agents, contractors...