Convenient to I-4, SR 417 Toll, and right on the border of Lake Mary, walking distance to a great Elementary School. 

We believe neighborhood retail centers are a property type that is well-positioned to provide sustainable growth toinvestors precisely because it is comprised of stores and services that:Are hard to replicate online: convenience stores, restaurants, QSR, grocery, wireless, financial services, dry cleaners, medical offices, fitness, hair and nail salons, etc. — and also provide opportunity to attract NNN national credit tenants Are complementary to ecommerce as a brick-and-mortar interface forlast-mile delivery.Provide nearby residents a compelling experiential reason to leave their homes, such as in-person shopping by choice or visiting local restaurantsLike anything else in real estate, this can vary depending on the location and economic fundamentals of the surrounding area

I'm leaning towards a commercial loan so that I can keep the mortgage in the LLC.

I would lean towards hiring a manager to run the project and do the maintenance ie hands off. 

I have already started my pre-licensing course in NC and am formulating my plan to ETS.I am leaning more towards property management, in fact I want to try and work for a PM full-time while I earn my full brokers license in NC (2 year requirement).

Neither of those locations is convenient to Bragg.

Decide what you're comfortable with as a monthly payment (if a home, think of it as an investment--mortgage payment + taxes + insurance + maintenance + management {your time} + reserves {sh*t happens}) and base your search for both houses and rentals on that, perhaps allowing a slight premium for the rental for the convenience factor.

As far putting a wholesale deal under contract, what  do you guys lean on when there is not enough buyers data in the area? 

I'm leaning towards Dallas area, but dang their property taxes are so high.

I am leaning towards being more of a passive investor than actively looking for a great deal.