How do you evaluate those things and more important what is the checklist I need to go over when considering a lot of these characteristics in Western North Carolina.

This is my gamble.

Until you get better clarity on those answers, you are more likely gambling instead of investing.

The city where you invest determines all long-term income characteristics.

unfortunately this marketing specialist was NOT a specialist in marketing for real estate businesses, did not understand the unique requirements and characteristics of real estate, and hence implemented their “generic” on line marketing program.  

However, financial freedom isn’t a one-time event; it’s about sustaining your desired lifestyle for the rest of your life.Once you have your goals, the next decision is where to invest.Investment Market/CityThe investment city determines all long-term income characteristics, including whether rents rise fast enough to outpace inflation and how long your income will last.Understanding inflation: It takes more dollars to buy the same goods every time you go to the store.

So in reality you are ALWAYS gambling in the stock market, yes, even with those big names that seem inconceivable to every drop and ESPECIALLY with those because most are so shocked and in disbelief when it occurs that it's only realized after your left with pennies on the dollar because you waited out a recovery that was never coming. 3rd: MATH and leverage.     

@Salome Ditmars Finding a good group that has all of the characteristics you mentioned above is probably the fastest and easiest way.  

EVERYONE is trying to crack the motivated seller code with technology or other voodoo tactics but they fail to realize that the inherent simple characteristic of "motivation" is exactly that it can't be equated, formulated or coded.Motivation is not about "if you exhibit characteristics "X", "Y", and "Z", you have a higher chance of being a motivated seller". 

Or they could never get to the latter, because they never had the beginning characteristics which include the former to develop properly.