Of the 3 cities, I am leaning towards Charleston since it is bounded at least partially by water and wetlands which would prevent large-scale urban sprawl and increased supply of housing.

Serious injury or death has occurred from each of these items, and they could have been prevented by keeping watch and staying on top of things.

Yes, even if the seller finances the real estate deal, that does not prevent you from taking advantage of the tax benefits associated with owning rental property.

You must document the use of the money to prevent a claim that you made a consumer-purpose loan.

My goal is to start moving to smartlocks to prevent the constant switch outs. 

However, if you’re committed to a specific suburban area, working closely with a local agent who knows the market well could be invaluable.Working with an Agent: Starting with a knowledgeable agent in your chosen market can definitely help streamline your efforts and prevent that analysis paralysis.

Regular inspections and preventative work can save you from costly repairs.

I find myself getting too attached to the cash flow numbers that it has prevented me from taking action.

The intention is to prevent money laundering and funding terrorists. 

Using a company to do rent reporting to Credit Bureaus is a good idea to prevent the delinquency in the first place and at least increase leverage to recover the unpaid rent after it has happened.