The key difference, though, was he spent months carefully getting to know the local architecs, reputable builders, and even a couple of niche design firms that specialize in modern builds for mid- to high-end buyers.

There's lots of properties for sale in the Smoky mountains so you may also have a larger selection of options to purchase as well.

Be careful not to place your identity in your age/success in RE.

You can still use a property manager for on-site tasks, but your own activities—like managing bookings, marketing, and bookkeeping—must be well-documented and exceed the property manager’s time.It’s important to carefully track your hours, especially if you’re managing remotely, as this can face additional scrutiny from the IRS.

Can't say what's hardest, too many moving parts but take care of your tenants and build that goodwill, pays off in spades.

Definitely tread carefully here to avoid any discrimination claims!

Beyond carefully vetting the tenants, how can an investor protect themselves from squatters if we want to sell years down the road?

The good news is that there are plenty of great CPAs out there including on these forums.We did have a conversation with him, which is why we selected him in the first place.

I care deeply about good Architecture and being a developer is the best fit for me to introduce a better built environment.

Be careful.