Make sure you either talk to someone familiar with the laws in your state/city, or read the landlord tenant laws yourself so you don’t mess it up.

Largest cities to expand sideways or vertically?

PM Title in Grove City/UA/Dublin...they're amazing. 

City of Atlanta have said we'll need a variance (bummer)Is anyone willing to give examples of hardships that they've been able to use to give justification that allowed you to get your variance application approved..?

I am originally from Kansas City and I just moved back about a year ago. 

If you’re on FB check out the Brew City REI group.

I live in South City and work in Kirkwood. 

Although some areas have never ending inventory like the guy up in Chicago.. parts of chicago will never run out of derelict homes.. and some of the other big rust belt cities. and or mid west cities..

You also need to take into account how your approach will impact the tenant and what response you are likely to receive.It would be helpful to know what city and state the rental is in, as landlord-tenant law varies per jurisdiction, so what works in our area may not work in your area.So, at the start of tenancy the tenant's parents paid the first month rent and security deposit.

It would be a different story if you lived in California or New York, given the real estate prices nearby to those metros, but in the southeast you have many more options.