I’ve worked with investors looking to hold land for similar goals; either to build their dream home or simply take advantage of appreciation.

And your simply charging points and keeping the points and then a service fee. ( interest rate delta). 

Simply be a calm stand off landlord who is expecting his tenants to honor the lease - Not you accommodate their personal situation.

There are so many gurus online pushing 0 down loans, and it simply does not exist if you have no experience, assets, or reserves.

Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are both extremely strong right now , with most people overpaying in the years that you mentioned and simply not KNOWING OR CARING  how to properly run a top notch Air BNB. 

Sometimes the best way to find the right type of mentor is simply growing your network and going about your business. 

REI is simply a place to park your money.

We do have a house we rent in the area and simply love it.

To prove payments you could simply show your latest statement to the lender denying you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I turn 40 next week and while I originally had a goal to be fully retired from my cubicle at 50...the idea of 10 more years simply hurts to think about it.