Can I also charge him rent till I find a suitable tenant ( I intend to aggressively market the unit)?

Do that in your post and ask what are you missing before deep diving and looking for numbers or marketing analysis.  

How much money do I need , what licenses , where to look for off market deals?

This works if the long-term market rent received on an appraisal can support the DSCR and you are buying vacant.

My markets are North ATL, Greenville, SC & Spartanburg, SC. 

@Kevin Luttrell I’m likely in a smaller market but I pay by check as soon as the cleaner sends me the invoice.

But this has been going on for years where some pull out and others enter the market.

Will the market continue to slightly favorite seller's in Montgomery?

Arranging schedule of various trades and balancing the good ones with the ones that are available.Permitting and inspection issues (should be a non-issue, but last house we had a new inspector that seemed like he had something to prove and nitpicked what I view as non-issues).Market swings impacting ARVs, or in the current market: are we going into a recession before the house can be completed?

I have been building relationships in my target market and underwriting deals.