If your budget will allow for a purchase of $400k or more, a single-family house within walking distance of the beach will likely yield higher return and a larger runway for appreciation.  4-bedroom channel homes in the popular Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach go for around $600-$800k. 

Spring is one of the main times folks do it so get on it now and I bet you find some good stuff.

Every city has many, many markets - there is no single market for a city like that. 

What are neighborhoods to stay away from and what are the best places to invest in rental single family homes?

I have a unique situation where a long time family friend inherited a single family house in Jersey City from her deceased mother.  

Your best bet will be to work the process a slow as it is.

The world of real estate is vast though and the approach that I want to take (lending, commercial, multi-family, single family, etc.) is where I am unsure where to start.

Is this for a single unit or apartment building? 

A single-member LLC will give you no real protection.

I don't think I've seen a single issue go unresolved.I have been here since 2017 and recently started engaging more as I became a more well rounded professional.