Expenses are about $20k annually for utilities, cleaning, etc.Looking for any advice as to how to proceed with this. 

You are asking some great questions and the best answer I know to give you is that rental income & expenses can be more predictable in a condo and attract a greater pool of guests. 

Wrightsville has become very expensive and very crowded even thought it is a beautiful island.

I always wondering , how NNN leaseholder or burgerking can survive in expensive location ?

With a locked-in low mortgage rate of 3.2%, and about $100k in equity after expenses, I'm contemplating my next move.

Lived in it for several years where the tenant paid for MOST of my mortgage but not all, but cut our living expenses dramatically.

I am tackling under 100k properties to test the market and limit my risk before tackling more expensive properties.

Plus they are expensive..

You can always start off by house hacking meaning you live in one UNIT or ROOM and renting out the other vacant units/rooms to offset your monthly mortgage payment.There are several ways to run and make sure you are maximizing your rental income while keeping your living expense as low as possible.

ALL of these issues can happen locally as well for sure, but if you learn locally the lessons are generally not as expensive.