If you want to try lending and do some buy&hold, then 1) find an experienced HML/Agency and lend through them a few times (they should be able to get you a decent return even after fees) & 2) leverage an experienced syndicator and join their deal as a passive investor - you can always learn about syndication through this "back" door if you will, while making some passive income and enjoying tax benefits of buy&hold investing.If you'd like to speak about it further feel free to PM me.Good luck!

Lastly, look into joining the local Real Estate Investor Association in Greenville.

I joined BP after you posted this.

Join those groups and post your criteria there. 

You have come to the right place to begin your investing journey.Have you looked into attending local meetings and joining Facebook groups? 

Is there a specific reason your potential tenant is hesitant to provide a legitimate ID?

Building a network, finding mentorship, joining local REI groups, and expanding your portfolio through larger investments can help.

Was the structure different when you joined, was it a different program, or is that how they run the upper two levels of this program?

Join a local landlord association.

Here's a little update: I've joined multiple investing groups on Facebook in hopes of attending meetups and finding property listings.