I don't even know where to find reliable contractors.Honestly, this is the biggest thing that's holding me back. 

Also, Charlotte is the 16th biggest city in the nation with population growing like crazy.

Your biggest challenge will be to defend your "numbers". 

Skiing, camping, golf, shopping and casino's within minutes of the parks.

My biggest songs were "There Goes My Baby" (Usher), "Lemme See" (Usher), "Motivation" (Kelly Rownland, Lil Wayne), "Mr Wrong" (Mary J Blige), "On My Level" (Wiz Khalifa), "Spacebound" (Eminem).  

One of my biggest hobbies and passions is musical theater, and I participate in community theaters all over the south bay and peninsula.

In fact, the low cost of short sale houses is often one of the biggest and only draws.

Get over it.Find yourself a mentor or a friend you trust and work on getting that chip off your shoulder.Right now, it's the biggest obstacle blocking your path.

Paring is the biggest limitation at this time.I can purchase the place all cash for probably 150-160K.

I didn't expect this to be such a controversial issue...I guess it goes to show that short sales are in such flux these days that even the guys who are doing a lot of them are having different experiences...I guess my MO from now on will be to submit contracts that clearly state that the inspection period begins when the lender approves the transaction, and if the listing agent has an issue with it, I'll move on.Normally, I never ask for an inspection period, but given that the home is being lived in (and therefore further damage can be done) and given that the short sale process can take many months (and who knows where the market will go in that time), I see no reason to give up all my contingencies at the outset.Now that I've written that above, it makes me realize that the biggest reason not to give up your contingencies early is that the market could drop over the next 6 months, and you could be forced to buy a property well above market if you sign a short sale agreement that has no contingencies after lender approval.