@Sino U. feel free to reach out with any questions.

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. 

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?

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

A contact of mine has been thriving with STR investments in suburban Chicago, targeting guests visiting for conferences.

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!

Feel free to reach out!  

Gotcha feeling excited and nervous at the same time

Sure it does. but depending on who the celebrity is/was.....That's why so many little hotels, boarding houses, vacation rentals, etc..... feature this in their advertising.And in some cases, you will not get more money, but you will get more guests.A little while ago, I went to Tombstone AZ and stayed in 'The first boarding house in Tombstone'....really cool place but kinda small and, well....old feeling.