Good job on driving around and looking at the area though, I believe everyone should do that when considering investing in an area.

I guess I don't 100% understand why some numbers are such a driving force/ must fit in the exact parameters for some investors.My plan at the moment is to find a 8-15ish unit complex purchase price at about a million.

It's currently tenant occupied, and since I'm honoring the existing terms of the lease, I drive to the property once a week to pickup a cash payment.

No sure of where in ATL metro you are targeting but that price point usually knocks out south ATL which, I personally think is going to have the most growth. 

Driving for dollars seems to be our best bet as of now.

I've just about decided that I need to hop in the car as soon as I see something promising, drive by it, and make an offer if the thing looks okay from the outside.AND I need to work on getting an off-market pipeline running.I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this kind of situation.

I would be very careful commercial in small towns can stay vacant for EVER and a Day.just drive through any small town between Dallas and New mexico.. look down the main street.. nice brick buildings 90% vacant then on the outskirts of town a walmart and the associated fast food joints..the resi might work.. and maybe you change the commerical to cheap storage but put NO value in its cash flow would be my advice unless there is some compelling reason you think those would be leased.. if there was demand they would not be vacant would be my thought

Here's some insight on several Texas cities based on population growth. 

Rotorua is lower demographic, you need to know where to buy as some areas better then others. growth is OK but nothing special.

I know we often read that we should look into larger cities where there is more growth.