I'm currently biased towards Indianapolis based on its job growth and affordability, but you could honestly find deals in any of the markets you mentioned (and if your heart is set on the Atlanta metro area, I'd strongly suggest the towns Union City and Fairburn based on their growth, appreciation, and price -- I almost closed on a good BRRRR deal in Fairburn but the rehab was just out of my budget). 

Of course, I’m a bit biased, but Branson, MO, checks a lot of those boxes.

It turned our entire small city upside-down, so I've formed my biased opinions about out-of-state multi-unit investing.

@Brandon Turner, although I am admittedly biased, I have been wanting to nominate my dad as a podcast candidate for some time.  

Full disclosure, he and I work together, so anything I say is biased and comes from 30 years of investing. :-)  It'll be ok lol.

I'm biased, but Omaha, NE is a solid market to invest in.

On this forum i am just saying what I am going through with no bias so others don't undergo what me or other like me have gone through.

Of course I would recommend talking to a qualified realtor but I'm married to the biggest realtor the smokies have ever seen so I'm biased.

Grocapitus is the most innovative syndication company I have ever seen though, so I would highly recommend attending their webinars and getting involved with them as an investor.For full transparency, his Marketing Director of Marketing and Social Engagement, Eric Bleau, has been my mentor for the past several months so I am a little biased, but, having personally been to multiple boot camps and having met several syndicators like Vinney Chopra and Anthony Chara, I can confidently say that Eric and Neal are two of the smartest, and most well-put-together players in the multifamily syndication world I've met. 

You did the hardest thing, which is simply buying that first one.I may be biased (no, I'm definitely biased) but @Erin Spradlin is kind of what you're looking for in terms of hand-holding.