You can keep trying to market it by yourself, or if you are willing to pay someone to manage the property full-time or even have a property management company get you some tenants and you take it over from there, it just depends on your time and money and what you value you more. 

Can anyone provide any insights, best areas to invest and PM.Columbus is a great market for appreciation and some cashflow, with all the major investments by large companies happening here.

Or, do you prefer a more diversified approach, possibly aiming for long-term appreciation and stability?

Does anyone have any suggestions of other cities (in the Southeast preferably) where there may be decent numbers ...

Multiple, billion dollar companies are investing heavy in our area, such as Intel, Google, and Amazon.

Holt is a good company I have sold them projects. 

It really comes down to a LTV being low enough it will always make sense to the lender, because truthfully get low enough on LTV then it can even flip where default and foreclosure is preferred!

I'd like to set up the company structure now and would like to do so under the advice of a well recognized cross boarder accountant that specializes in real estate investing.Currently located in BC.

If you want to use a local company to manage your rental instead of self-managing, I can put you in contact with a great team!

There are companies that specialize in the eviction process that are more efficient and faster than attorneys.