Knowing what I know it seems like it is still a good deal for someone who is able to ride out the long renovation process. 

so its not just paying those off but you need to replace them.if you can sell them for whats owed  which can be a chore I know.then maybe a lease on a cheap work vehicle.. usually can get those in the 200 a month range or a little less. and then maybe a nicer ride for the wife and kids.If I was snow balling anything I would be paying down your Jackson debt one at a time .. the key to that market is free and clear rentals.. as you know the tenant base there can be transient and tough  assuming your in So Jackson or areas of Jackson that is C class

No real thunder activity so no hail or tornado's and no humidity. 

As far as the city, I'm riding the gravy train till it stops, and if it does then move to LTR.

Being in a larger market on the upswing lets you ride the wave for sure but that doesn’t mean that money can’t be made in declining or stagnant markets.

I'd be happy to go ride by and scope out the situation for you.

To be honest, I'd really like to stay involved in real estate as I seem to have grown passionate about it, but I'm not sure how since all my properties are a 3hr plane ride away and investing nearby isn't much of an option. 

But you can rent them out and ride the appreciation wave for as long as you possibly can and you can have your tenants pay off your mortgages over 20 - 30 years.  

Plan on replacing your roof due to hail damage at least once if not more times.

It's been my experience that there are no original ideas out there - and the very few ideas that are "original" quickly get what I would call clingons riding shirt tails (watch the movie "The Big Short" and you'll see exactly what I mean).If you're defining it as not following trends, I'm still not sure how that goes because people are into everything....you've got gold/silver bugs, you've got REIT investors, you got investors that follow master limited partnerships, you've got various aspects of real estate, etc., etc.Personally, I read and digest what other people have done/are doing.