Do they haul in dirt and fill in the cavity underneath the pool or support with structural steel? 

Anyone have experience with a STR cabin in the Smokies that requires 4 wheel or all wheel drive to get to in the winter time?

My concern for you is that you could lose part or all of your investment IF you are not obsessively managing your asset in the earliest years of ownership. 

2) I have been told that one should not buy an older apartment building because it has already depreciated most or all that it can depreciate.

Does anyone have any recommendations or connections to a tax professional somewhere in GA or AL (I live close to the AL border) that they could mention?

If he's worried about you revealing his "trade secrets" you can always agree to a non-disclosure of information for whatever period makes him comfy.Bare minimum: your offer should stipulate that once you go under contract demand the Seller must furnish an estoppel letter listing the terms such as length of the tenancy, who are the approved tenants, who pays which utilities, how much was the security deposit, how much is the monthly rent, who owns the appliances, and are there any other agreements written or oral between land lord and tenant? 

This is like asking: "Hey I just got a cavity this year and I was wondering if I should just try to fill this one myself or if I should have a dentist help me out"(Above comment meant to be humorous, not trying to be rude)Get a CPA.

If you wish, you can rent the rooms out and therefore be covering part or all of your mortgage.

I may also be wrong in some (or all) parts.  

The excess funds can be used as you see fit.Ideally rent covers most or all of your PITI.