A smooth sea never made a good skilled sailor.

Also, are there initial steps we should be doing now to help this process flow smoothly?

Next step when you go to look for land you need to make sure it is buildable with all utilities and that the permit process will be easy and smooth and you never wanna close on the land until you know you can get a permit for what you want to build. 

It’s gone smoothly because we take turns, work together, delegate what we can’t do, and don’t panic.

This is because being a landlord is usually a team effort, particularly when you have several tenants to manage.A professional property manager can help make you some extra rental income by making sure that all the day-to-day operations run smoothly and seamlessly in a cost-effective manner.

Smooth process other than the rate increase?

. ~ I don't like the game playing.

Going smooth so far should close soon.

Those that are able to run a smooth start to finish for their guest, mitigate issues, keep maintenance down or respond quick (think minutes not hours), and have ways to make a memorable experience will be the ones that stand out and make it in the long run.

I'm currently reconsidering and setting my focus on the Charlotte market, as I have a competitive advantage (Family in the area who are willing to help and are natives to Charlotte) that could allow me to have a smooth transition and peace of mind, that im not totally in it on my own.