I was fortunate enough to purchase it about a decade ago at the bottom of the recession and it was my primary residence until about two years ago, when I rented it out and moved back in with my aging mother in Orange County.

I was fortunate enough to stumble into a single easily defined niche.

As of now, I would prefer to stay in my local market due to relationships I have already established, however I am not opposed to suggestions for other quality multi-family markets throughout the US that investors have had good fortune with.  

The owner has told me outright that he's not looking to make a fortune on the houses and that he would be open to forms of creative financing to help reduce his tax liability.

Fortunately There are several good exchange options today .

And you can charge a fortune.

Fortunately it all ended well as I could find another tenant fairly quickly but what concerns me now is this overly sweet behavior of my older tenant with the new comers that can potentially disrupt my relationship yet again.

Fortunately, Georgia landlord-tenant law is pretty clear: Inability to pay is no defense against an eviction (called a dispossessory suit or "dispo" in Georgia).I'm far more concerned that you might have accepted payment from the tenant after you filed your dispo.

Fortunately, I just moved here and have had zero interactions with this neighbor since it has been vacant for some time. 

I for one think I "own" all of the fortune 500 companies because I've invested passively through my index fund and have a tiny claim on future earnings; indirectly of course.