Big Bass Lake is a little further from NYC than I’d prefer and there are more lavish amenity filled communities in the region, but we have been pleasantly surprised with our STR performance. 

If I was able to go back in time I would absolutely go with Brian's advice and buy a du/tri/quadplex and to get most if not all of my mortgage paid for by my tenants. 

We're not social workers and we're not charities, but we can guide our tenants to community resources in times of need.

However, I have personally sent postcards (You don't have to give up just yet in selling your house) to those addresses and you'd be pleasantly surprised at the result.  

I'd recommend looking outside of the hot downtown Charleston RE market and focus on growing areas like James Island, Mount Pleasant, Hilton Head, etc.

As an agent myself I understand it's not always pleasant to get low offers but we never know the situation, and if I'm present once there's an agent with a motivated seller I'm definitely going to take that opportunity. 

Just in time learning is one of the best forms of education you can get.

All you're doing is switching from crab grass to a softer more pleasant feeling one lol.

When I visited the area last, I stayed in Parma and was pleasantly surprised with the area and what it had to offer. 

I feel coming from humble beginnings actually helps us in life ,often in times we don’t even realize