I would encourage you to self manage.

Any comment or encouragement would be appreciated.

Thanks for the encouragement!

The original Bitcoin zealots I knew were banking (no pun intended) on a total collapse of society and banking systems as one of their selling points.  

But we also added lease options to our model which attracted a better tenant and lessened the the amount of work that it took to manage the lease option properties.So I would encourage you consider investing in your own back yard before going out of state, especially if you live in North Carolina. 

To mitigate risks, I strongly encourage getting a home inspection to fully understand what you're buying.If the property checks out, this area can be a great addition to your portfolio.

Knowing what i know today, I always encourage new investors to do their first investments with professional guidance if you can find it -not so much the guru courses, but a personal approach from a genuinely experienced investor in the market you are entering.

I also encourage you not to give up on a real estate.

Our average home price is also only around $250K making it a very affordable market.I highly encourage you to get started as I love real estate but I caution you on moving too fast too quickly. 

I appreciate the words of encouragement.