I already have the knowledge, experience, and systems in place to do about 20 properties this year.

Quote from @Christian Styles: Hey Sam, I've used both Propwire and Propstream, they seem quite similar but propwire has a free base version and propstream does not.

We will own the other lot free and clear.

Why pay rent when your landlord gives you free housing, free maintenance team, free mortgage, free electricity, free water, free trash?

@Ketch BaysStarting small in a cash-flowing market is a smart way to gain experience and build confidence without overextending yourself financially.

The problem (as you have cited) is trying to understand what you need (you don't know what you don't know), where to get it, qualifying its source(s), and the validity and usefulness of all that.Pardon me if I've gone into this too much, but I meet many people with the same concerns that you are voicing and this is offered, as much as possible in direct response to your post.Please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions. 

There are conditions that must be met.Also, I believe the taxes are higher in Richland County than Lexington County, but I don't like there, so I don't have personal experience with that.

Start with BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginners Guide (free).

Feel free to PM me @Eric Johnson.

If I were in your and/or your mother-in-laws shoes, I would go to a local bank and use the free and clear house to secure a $150K+ line of credit.