Asheville, Black Mountain, or somewhere else close to Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon) which is a famous route known for its crazy twisty roads are all areas I'm looking. 

If a project has an inordinately high HOA dues costs, we have seen it be a drag on the marketing and sales velocity and absorption rates. ~ Scott

Some are fixed costs that will be smaller % (and drag on your returns less) on more sizable purchases.  

City council will be now be doing outreach to local homeowners and investors, and this could drag on for a while...

I know that lots of people like myself travel that way to Deals Gap (Tail of the Dragon) also.

I have 3 children still at home and we also have 3 beloved dogs (2 of them are German Shepherds), 2 cats, and a bearded dragon, making getting an apartment or even rental home extremely difficult. 

I don't want to come on too strong with a sales vibe but also don't want to let it drag on and lose a potential tenant.

Make sure you get them all out & don't have this thing drag on & on.

You do not want to be in any capital intensive deals that have a chance to drag on and on. 

If you continue trying to salvage this with the same strategy of cutting corners such as by acting as your own GC, I fear it will likely drag on forever and you'll dig the hole deeper.