I have built enough capital to feel comfortable investing heavily and am interested in either a flip, small multi family, or commercial.

They feel like they own your property.

Since I'm not a pigeon forge local, I also don't have a good feel for the appropriate cost of goods and services either.While I don't necessarily suspect anything nefarious from the management company, I don't now that our financial incentives are always well-aligned. 

There are many loan programs to help out first time homebuyers so don't feel as if this is too ambitious when there are tools to help you out, like use here on the Forum!

Off market deals usually have nonrefundable deposits and a clunkier process that isn't as suited for out of state people until they have good contacts in the area to evaluate the property (mostly contractors that feel comfortable evaluating projects for you).

Does switching jobs feel right?

Avoid surfaces that can stain or feel cheap like low end LVP.

Gotcha feeling excited and nervous at the same time

feel free to message me.

Go with what you feel comfortable with.4.