@Aaron Klatt, some smaller towns are OK.

I wonder, is it necessary for the bank to be within the same town, or county atleast, I plan to invest in?

The biggest question is whether or not you and your mother are willing to move 20-30 minutes down the road.Saint Pauls NC has a nice 1200 sq.ft. house listed in the mid-$20s that you should be able to get up to speed without too much money as long as you know someone who will do plumbing work for you cheap.If you have approximately $20K, you ought to be able to find something in your price range in rural NC, but it might not be in your immediate vicinity.Good luck, Yes, I would be intered in moving to any town within 25 miles of Hoke county.

Being that I am from the area and familiar with most of the towns I have been looking into commercial and larger multi-family units there since they are substantially cheaper than here in FL.Best of luck to you in pursing your goals.

I wonder if anyone here has ever listed with them to actually find a manager/renter to take over an STR.Background: I'm exploring the opportunity costs and various alternatives to traditional DIY hosting that most of us are doing.

Also check out all the REI meetups in town. 

I know it's a small town.

I do house hacking in Georgia as well, Conyers is my original home town.

We have some big college towns like Keene, Dartmouth and Plymouth etc.

I have found that property values in college towns do not appreciate much, so if you are not in it for the long term, then don't do it, you will damper the single family value.However, if you are a long term rent and hold, then go for it.