My initial strategy is wholesaling and my markets are the Triad/Piedmont and the Triangle of NC. 

I'd also target markets with good population growth & economic drivers that are helping the market progress. 

If she can’t afford your market rent, she may not be able to find anything else.

Because even if it's a more expensive market, you're house hacking, so you're going to be subsidizing your living expenses anyway.

I am not an LA or So Cal real estate expert, but from what I generally know about the market is, if you can get any positive cash flow (with "reasonable" down payment), it is likely a win.  

I'm a Real estate investor new to the middle TN market and am looking to build a team of agents, lenders, contractors etc.

From around 2010-2020 I built and managed a small-medium-sized portfolio in my area (which is not an ideal market).

Watch how these indexes move and you will get a much better sense of how the markets are actually reacting.STRs usually have a pricing hit to them versus a LTR with most lenders as well.  

I was looking at some online real estate courses and they cost thousands of dollars so thought it might be better to invest in syndication and get 15% or more returns.

It has a fair market value of 500k when you inherit it.