Hope this helps keep a finger on the pulse here.

Happy to provide feedback if helpful. 

I'd probably use local realtors to help re rent any vacancies and then possibly use a PM software like rent redi to keep everything in one place.Has anyone had management in place and then decided to opt out to self manage?

These properties require more capital up front, but can really help your overall real estate portfolio.

Need help getting clarity on the best path to take. and would like to be briefed on the recommended path on best next steps.

Your irresistible offer appears to not have turned out so well either by your own admission and my advice is to help you and others reading this about the importance of knowing how and what to have in your contracts, how to properly vet buyers BEFORE you bring them a deal, etc. your situation is a great learning lesson for others and for yourself if you are willing to learn from your own mistakes.As to the assignment being legal or not, I am not 100% knowledgeable on NC laws, however, I have had several experienced investors tell me North C has similar laws regarding this process as does CA, FL, etc.

I guess the only good thing about a prepayment penalty is that is is considered prepaid interest on your 1099 statement which may help with tax deductions.

Learn your market and get to know your contractors and the work load they can handle and how quickly they can get to your project to help determine your best course of action.

I do a lot of work in the Hispanic community and I want to bring more people into that network and help even more.

This is a forum to help people grow and learn, not criticize.