Look at this as a positive because maybe its highlighting your lack of preparedness to manage the property yourself.

You don't need to have an agent (although that would be great, but it's not a good use of their time until you are pre-approved and ready) because there are Open Houses every weekend in every market.

Here's a fundamental explanation to get your juices flowing:Assume a house costs $200,000 and rents for $1,500.

My understanding is that the security deposit needs to be in a trust account which I've created.Also, what software are landlords using to manage properties out of state in NC?

Securing a sponsor can be challenging, especially when they have concerns about your capabilities to manage the property and keep it profitable.So, let me share a suggestion that might make a potential sponsor more comfortable:Offer to have them oversee the asset and property management aspects, including the control over cash flow.

I want to post to FB Marketplace too but it's annoying how you can't hide housing listing posts from friends on there as I don't want everyone knowing what I am doing.

The very first property that I bought I house hacked, then rented entire house then sold 24 years later. 

Multiple Properties: Depending on how you want to manage liability, you can hold all properties under one LLC or separate LLCs.

I've kept a list of vendors like these from managing my properties & being a realtor.

Does anyone know the going rate for price/sq ft to construct a beach house?